Children are a Blessing

Last night, I was exhausted.
Too exhausted to remember how much I love being a mom.
Too exhausted to enjoy the interactions during our bedtime routine.
Too exhausted to appreciate a child who shares from the heart every chance he gets, who wants to tell me all he is learning in life and ask for my involvement and feedback.
Too exhausted to acknowledge that the Lord has given me exactly what I dreamed of...a loving marriage, the opportunity to foster and adopt, a houseful of children.
So I gathered my youngest into my arms, and pulled her into bed with me.
My heart is still entwining with hers.  It has not been an easy journey.
She smiled sleepily and asked me to hold her hand while she fell asleep tucked right up against me, as close as can be.
As we lay there in the dark, I whispered Truth, for my ears more than hers.
"Children are a blessing from the Lord."
"This precious daughter is a gift from Him."
"I was blessed with this precious child because the Lord plans to equip me, day by day, to raise her well."
"Lord, please help me to love my daughter well and be a blessing in her life."
Whatever the Lord laid on my heart to pray for myself, my children, our family, I prayed.
In those moments, I found peace and desperately needed reminders of who I am, where I am journeying, and Who picks me up when I stumble.