"...let's do our best to create a home our family feels loved in! It all starts with a sweet and nurturing attitude!..."
Personal confessions here at the farm...I haven't felt very sweet and nurturing lately, and I want to publicly excuse it due to reinjuring my back (great pain) and a sudden turn of personality in my 16 month old (I'm immensly exhausted). For the record, I'm TRying!
Little one decided to start screaming each and every time I lay her down in her crib; not just for a couple minutes, mind you, but for the duration of her confinement! And, for those of you tempted to say it will pass in 2-3 days, not so! We're coming up on two weeks straight, to the point of eliminating BOTH naps during the day...
Along with back pain, I feel myself despairing. Do you ever dare ask God "What do you want from me, Lord?" That was me, last night. Begging God for an end to the screaming, all I could hear was "Trust" and "Perspective". I couldn't think of a chapter and verse that said "Perspective", but I began to meditate on the goodness of God, and the mercy and generousity of His tender gifts of children.
But I also began to doubt and question my parenting skills. So today, when my own tears were almost non-preventable, I called the doctor. I began to imagine bulging eardrums, or swelling in the pericardium that caused great pain when lying in the crib...
The good news (albeit slightly embarrassing), Little One "simply" has an absolute mouthful of emerging molars, bicuspids, incisors, you-name-it-it's-comin'-through. The bad news...I'm $70 lighter. I'm thankful to have her thoroughly checked out and all my fears put to rest, but I hate that I spent the money in my hour of despair.
I don't know if there is any kind of lesson in all of this, but I am cast upon the Lord. And I am so thankful for the reminder to cultivate a sweet and nurturing attitude, even in the midst of trials.
12 comments:
Lydia writes:
Kathy,
So very sorry to hear of your troubles and yet I can honestly say, I understand and that I have been there! God is so good during these times. He is so patient and gentle with us and I adore Him for it. I have had times of despairing and you know, He uses our sweet (sometimes not so sweet:)) children to teach and mold us soooo much. He knows what we need and He is ever present in our times of need. His arms are so huge and I think how He welcomes us in these such times. The word reminds me, time and again: "Cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you". He is faithful and no matter what, His love is unconditional. I am so thankful for His mercies being new every morning and His grace which really is sufficient for our every need. Thank you for your honesty in sharing and please know I will be in prayer for your precious little one and for your back. Having a bad back is so difficult. You don't realize how much you use it, until it goes out! God Bless you sister and I pray God's richest blessings and comfort to you and for His enduring strength and perspective through it all. He truly is all we need. Don't be hard on yourself either, God knows your heart and from what I can tell you have a wonderful family and you have done a fabulous job as a mom /teacher. Keep it up and know, this too shall pass. Cherish this time, for it truly is fleeting.
In His Love,
Lydia Hoppman
Thank you, dear Lydia for all the encouragement and prayers...God is good!
Kathy
Awww, poor baby. My little one has been doing the same thing and I think he is teething as well.
I am glad your turned to the Father and was able to be comforted. He is always so good to us.
Thanks for sharing this. I too, needed to read it, just at this time.
We all have those times, I know that I do much more often than I should and I am sure that it is reflected in my family.
Keeping my focus on the Lord really is what I need to do at those times and remembering His great love and care for me.
I hope this hard time will pass for you and your back will feel much better soon. Also, I hope your little ones teeth will not cause her so much pain, that it will pass very soon and life will get back to normal.
Dearest Kathy,
When you hear of a sister in Christ that is suffering, you wish that you could be right there to help her physically - wash dishes, make soup, anything. But, alas, dear one, I am far away and I know that you are surrounded by the most loving family at this time.
I also have been there. My daughter is an autistic child and when her episodes of violence occurred, it was for nights on end, that my husband and I would stay up and just be near her ~ guarding her so that she will not harm herself too much. Short of restricting her, there was not much we could do.
After her diagnosis, medication was prescribed and, Praise The Lord Jesus Christ, it is working and she is quite stable and happy at the moment. What the future holds - we don't know - but I don't worry because I know that He is in control of her future and He knows what is best for us as a family.
Remember dear one, that what you are going through right now physically & emotionally, is coming on because of your pain. So don't despair...don't focus on your pain, great as it is right now. Keep your eyes up...I know, I know that this is not easy when you are dealing with a screaming child that is in pain also, but now you know what is wrong with her...and when the teeth all breakthrough, she will be the happy and beautifully content child, you all adore :)
Praying and lifting you and your beautiful family up to the Throne,
maria
Blessings to you and yours..I am so happy to have found your lovely blog!
Years back when he was almost 2 years old, my youngest son one day took to having a fit and clenching his teeth.. and then would make a hard fist with his hands. Finally, close to dinnertime, he did all three and slid down the wall and sat there! I feared brain tumor or at the least, a severe inner ear infection as this was not his norm. So I bundle him up, take him to the after hours doctor (similar waiting times to large city ER's!) and the doctor looks at him, examines him, asks me again what happened and says, "besides a few teeth coming in? He had a temper tantrum."
My son? Moi?
Yes. $50 later, I drive home, embarrassed and dsicouraged that MY son had a temper tantrum!And it wasn't a one day deal either!
God SO used that child to keep me humble! Whle they have all grown and left home, I still have to keep my eyes SO on God so that my attitude remains in check...lack of sleep makes my attitude worse. Back then I sought encouragment from a fellow Christian mom and asked hubby to take a few minutes in his day (he works from home) while I grabbed a 20 minute nap. I will be praying for the teeth to come through quickly and the naps to resume!!
My mother's heart goes out to you! I can feel the desperation in your writing. How pointless it seems for me to say -this too shall pass.....because the waiting is so hard. Wish I could be there to give you a little relief. My 9 are grown now ( well the "baby" is 7) I look back and remember with you those days. Sorry - I will pray things improve.
Oh, I hope the baby's teething woes get a quick respite. And as for the monetary loss, think of it this way: you can't put a price tag for love and concern!
Ouch~ poor little baby! Teething hurts doesn't it? I too feel for you. I wish also I could be there to help. I just fall apart when my babes hurt, cry and I can't fix it. My sweet husband is always the one who calms my spirit and the baby no matter what the problem. I'm so glad baby is better and you can rest now and let your heart be still in Christ~
Hugs~ Cinnamon
I too am so sorry for the struggles you have been going through. As a wife and mother with so much responsibility I can understand and have felt the way you write about here. While in pain with migraines I have been much more short fused and felt the mommy after guilt. I will keep you in my prayers during this time. I read in a post above, fellow sisters in Christ wish we lived close enough to run over and lend a hand. Sometimes hearing the words of encouragement and understanding of these fellow sisters in Christ is just as uplifting. I pray you will feel the support as you are uplifted in prayer. Know that you are an amazing Christan mother and your children are beyond blessed to be raised by such loving wonderful parents.
Blessings friend, Catherine
Remember Emily's screaming fits when she was a little bit older than that? Nobody believed me as to how long she could scream - until she became hoarse! But then you actually witnessed it over here and I finally felt somebody actually understood me!!! You were such a help and encouragement during that time to me! Now I could use some more for that girl is now 11 years old and already I see those hormones and mood swings a startin' Yikes!
It is so nice to know others go through similar circumstances and survive! My dr. told me I have herniated two discs in my back and there are times when I wonder if we will get through while the four littles of our home take over! Thank you for the encouragement and reminder to just love my babies!
Post a Comment