Abundantly Blessed and Mission #1

As a parent, you always want the best for your kids, and sometimes, all you can do is pray that you are doing the right thing for them every step of the way. As a mom, I think it goes even deeper than than. It's an amazing thing, really. Knowing that you carried life inside of you; being able to nourish that child with your body...it's a gift that I'm so humbled by.

The other day, I was able to stop and really appreciate my role as a parent, and more importantly, my ability to provide for my children. Nothing extraordinary happened. In fact, the things that got me thinking about all of this were things that I do everyday. Like covering the girls back up when they've kicked off their blankets. Sitting around the dinner table, excited at the fact they are finally learning to love vegetables! Folding their clothes, trying not to go crazy with all the socks that are missing their matches. Watching them run around the house and telling them to stop jumping on the couch for a millionth time. Giving them baths and wrapping them up in their towels. Kneeling by their beds to kiss them goodnight. It's all such a blessing!!

But having all of this makes my heart ache for moms and dads around the world who are not as lucky as me. I don't know what it feels like to not be able to keep your children warm at night. I am devastated at the thought that some parents have to look at their kids and tell them that they won't be eating again tonight. I feel for the parents who are struggling to just keep a roof over their children's heads, let alone giving them a place where their kids can play and laugh. And I know that there are parents out there who work so much that at the end of the day, they can barely muster up enough energy to hug and kiss their kids.

I feel so ridiculous! I mean how many times have I complained about not having enough? Always wanting something bigger, better, and newer. When in reality, I've been abundantly blessed! Tonight, as I was making dinner, Bella kept asking when we were going to eat because her tummy was grumbling. I sent up a prayer right away because at that moment, I knew that my child was going to be sitting down to a hot meal, while millions of children's tummies would still be grumbling.

So, here's Mission #1 for all of us. What if we could donate a blanket or two to a shelter so that a child can be warm tonight? What if we looked in our pantries and donated to a local food bank so that a family can share a meal together? What if we packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in our cars and handed them out to that mother and child who are out on the streets today? What if.......

"When one person

Is thoughtful to another,

The thoughtfulness

Gets carried on and on.

It is like a great river of kindness,

Once blocked by rocks,

That is suddenly opened

By a single person's

Kind thought or act..."

Excerpt from "Flowing Thoughtfulness"

by Mattie J.T. Stepanek, in "Loving Through Heartsongs", 2003