Wednesday 18 January 2012

This is the day

Today I am a single parent for the day.  It's not for long - less than 24 hours - but I hadn't done it before.  I hadn't done the children from start to finsh, all on my own.  To some, this may not sound like a big deal, but over the years, having lived with an illness with some degree of unpredictability, this would've terrified me.  The Mister has generally always been around at both ends of the day to help out.  Occasionally he's been absent either in the morning or evening, but never for both.  That I am basking in a degree of health I haven't seen in years had eased my trepidation, but in the back of my mind there was still the slight panic of, "Will I over-sleep?  Will they be late for school and Nursery?  Will I cope right up until bedtime?"  Moan moan moan.  And I have been - moaning - to a few friends.

Then yesterday evening I watched Joyce Meyer touch briefly on Psalm 118:24: "This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."  She was advocating that when we get up, no matter what we think we are going to face that day, we choose to say, "This is the day that the LORD has made, and I'm going to be happy about it!"

And today was fine.  The Mister was collected at 4:30 a.m., and because I couldn't get back to sleep, instead of panicking about the lack of sleep making me tired and thus hindering my ability to cope, I enjoyed extra time with God.  I chose Psalm 118:24.  And I really enjoyed the time I spent with the girls too.

Now I'm looking forward to welcoming a tired hubby home from a long day of meetings in Paris.  I hope he's comfy on that plane.

Friday 6 January 2012

Overheard snippets

"...my future.  But not just my future, my kids' as well."

"You won't believe how much I'm looking forward to this weekend!"

"...and my social worker told me, 'Every f*@%ing parent does it.'"

Three women I passed on my walk home from town today.  All mothers.  All with hopes and dreams.  Three very different backgrounds, ages, lives.  All intimately known to God.