Legendary Mother...

I've been very quiet about my thoughts and feelings on the passing of the legendary and incomparable Whitney Houston. It hasn't been because I do not care but rather because I do. Some deaths, when they occur give us pause. When Elvis Presley passed away, the nation paused. When Michael Jackson died, the world mourned. Now that the world has experienced the loss of another incredible gift, I can't help but ponder its deeper meaning.
I'm not going to spend a whole lot of time pontificating about Ms. Houston's achievements because they are numerous. Also, the news media has done a fantastic job of mentioning her successes.
What I will point out is that few realize as I do that her greatest achievement of all was not her numerous Grammy awards or blockbuster success, but her child.
Whitney Houston was a single mom, just like me.
While many would seek to call her a "bad mom" because of her personal struggles, I don't. The truth of the matter is that many mothers struggle with a variety of things but fortunately, their struggles don't have to be played out in public. I haven't always made the best choices for myself and ultimately those choices did trickle down to my children. I haven't always done the smart thing. I haven't always been a selfless mom. I thank God today for the opportunity to make things better and to keep trying to get it right. But a child today will lay her mother and friend to rest, not a pop legend.
When I think of my two children and the enormous love they have for me and capacity to forgive, my heart aches for Bobbi Kristina. No one can imagine what she is going through unless they've been there. Her mother may have been famous to the world, but she was first and foremost a mother to her. Despite her shortcomings, her mother is the one who raised her, cared for her and nurtured her. Theirs was a relationship and bond that could not be fully known by anyone on the outside. My love for my own children is something I never would imagine my life being gifted with. It is intense. It is beautiful and it is a blessing.
Single mothers face challenges that many in society don't recognize. We must provide for our homes but at the same time, figure out a way to be connected to those we love and stay involved in their lives. Many of us carry hurt and pain from past relationships that we must daily strive to manage and keep in perspective so that we are present and available to meet the emotional needs of our children. It may look easy but the job of a mother is far from it.
Not only are you expected to look perfect at all times, when things aren't perfect, you are to blame.
Today is a time of mourning for a family and a world who were all impacted by one woman's extraordinary gift. While many will mourn and continue to mourn for a variety of reasons...and some will point out that she lost her voice a long time ago...
That was not her greatest gift to the world.
Her greatest gift to her family was herself and they loved her, even if she never sang another song.
She was loved by so many just for who she was.
And her daughter will always love her for being her mom and not just an icon.
I'm inspired more than ever to remember that I  and I alone am a gift to the world and to my family.
Just me.
I am enough.
If I am legendary for anything at all in this life, I want it to be for the love and push forward that I gave to my two children. If that is said of me, my living will not have been in vain.
Rest in Jesus Whitney.

By His Hands We Shall Be Fed...

 Both my children are picky eaters in their own right. I've pretty much learned their ways to the point I can get them both nourished with little resistance. However, every now and then my youngest, Caitlyn likes to put up an unusual challenge.
While shopping, she asked for s'mores pop tarts. I was a little hesitant to buy them but she won me over with her persistence and begging. When it was breakfast time the next day, she asked for some. She took one tiny bite and calmly declared, "I don't like it".
REALLY LITTLE GIRL?!
That's what I was screaming inside, I promise. lol!
But instead, I began to think.
Finally, I said to her, "It has marshmallows in it. I know you like those".
"Marshmallows?" she replied.
I knew I had her then.
She took another little bite, and then another.
Then she looked up at me and asked, "Will you feed me?"
Most times I let her eat on her own but when she's struggling with a particular dish, I will step in to make sure she gets finished.
So bit by bit, I passed it to her and eventually, she finished her once un-liked pop tarts.
I can't help but think about our Heavenly Father and His loving care of His children.
How many times have we declared that we didn't like something, simply because we didn't know what it was? But once He brought clarity to our minds, we began to embrace that thing and be nourished by it.
Sometimes adversity comes and it doesn't look good. It's different, strange and doesn't smell familiar. But it's time to arise and eat from His hand.
It will nourish you.
It will strengthen you.
It will satisfy your soul.
When you struggle to eat what He has set before you, whether it be a situation or a passage of scripture, simply say, "Lord, feed me".
By His hand you shall be fed.
He is our daily bread and He will give you the grace you need to finish.

Hurting In More Than One Place...

It's one thing to be injured and hurting.
It's quite another experience to be hurting and injured in more than one place.
I suffered a freak accident today.
I cut my forearm on a broken picture frame.
I took a picture of it because honestly, I was astonished at such a severe injury. I've never been cut this deeply in my entire life.
My sister seems to think I need stitches.
We'll see. lol!
I'll spare you all the pictures because not everyone can stomach such pictures. Heck, I can barely stomach it! Thankfully, I have my mom here who helped me quickly clean and bind up the wound with gauze.
At first I didn't feel much of anything. I just stared at this gaping, nearly two inch gash in my arm. I saw parts of my arm that probably should be left to the medical professionals to view.
But now it hurts.
I know it's there.
Before I hurt my arm, I was fighting a cold.
Body aches.
Runny nose.
I'm feeling better but I'm still fighting.
But now I'm hurting in more than one place.
It would be nice if we could deal with one thing at a time; one hurt at a time.
But sometimes, both naturally and spiritually, we have to deal with more than one source and more than one place of pain.
Maybe it's a painful past and a painful present.
Maybe it's a sickness in your body while battling to stay afloat financially.
Maybe it's a stressful job and a deteriorating marriage.
There are so many places you can hurt and unfortunately, we can experience hurt in all of those places at once.
I'm debating whether or not to get stitches for my arm. I'm sipping herbal tea for my cold.
I will rest.
I will medicate.
And I will heal.
It may take some time, but all of the hurting places can and will heal.
That's the glorious reality of being a believer.
Many are our afflictions, but the Lord delivers us from them all!
If you're hurting today in more than one place, be encouraged.
Take comfort.
The power of God is present and available to heal you, wherever you may be hurting.
Ask Him. Seek Him when things are difficult, complicated and painful.
He's not only able, He's willing to heal you, no matter where you hurt and no matter how many places that hurt may be.