In the morning, my husband and I “quick clean” our bedroom. It is our bedroom but it is also an informal family room. It has two couches and 2 recliners and since it is clean, my kids spend a significant amount of time up here.

Every morning, our room is full of kids shoes and socks.  Cups, bowls and food trash litter the floor. It is frustrating to say the very least. Well, a couple of days ago as we were cleaning, I saw my youngest shoes on the floor.  Instead of getting upset, I just looked at these tiny shoes for a moment. I thought of the hugs and kisses he gives me each and every day. I thought of the chubby hands of my baby. I reminisced about seeing him in the hospital for the first time. I thought about his baby smell and the joy he has brought into my life.

 

Then, I reflected on several of my friends who have lost a young child. My heart was bursting with love for them. I couldn’t imagine their grief, loss and pain.

It really made me think about the blessing my children are in my life. Do they drive me crazy? Well, yes they do. Do I get frustrated? Too often to count. Do I think about how different my life would be without them? Yes.  Do I cherish and love them despite their faults? Yes.

All of the sudden these little shoes took on a different meaning to me. They represented so much more than a pair of shoes I needed to clean up.

They are my reason for being. They are my mission in this life. They are the blessing I have of holding my sweet children every day. They are a reason for me to continually strive to do better. They are my eternal joy.

So, rather than pick the shoes up and toss them down the stairs. I picked them up and lovingly placed them in safer spot grateful that I had the opportunity to do so.

Cause you know what? They grow up. You begin to be less important in their lives. There will come a time that you will fight for their attention.

So, I decided I am going to be better and bask in their love and attention for as long as I can. I am going to cuddle more and argue less. I am going to cherish more and resent less. I am going to give more attention to where it is most deserved…to the little feet that are in my life.