Gratitude In All Realms

One sure-fire way to avoid the pitfalls of complaining in pregnancy is by stopping to smell the roses in life, the abundant blessings which He has given to little, old me. I am undeserving and yet acutely blessed. And I’ve been challenged more toward an attitude of gratitude in the wake of these blessings.

I am acutely aware of the blessing of the life growing within. Many thanks to this lady and this one, I have been learning about walking God’s path and joyfully accepting what He has for me. I have been learning to relish pregnancy blessings by the bucket load–the aches, the heartburn, you name it–all are beautiful signs of my body bringing forth life. And I don’t take that blessing lightly.

As I watched the lives of both Therese Joy (Red’s first child) and Lucy Rose (Kat’s second child) come into this world and depart, I am desperately reminded that life is fleeting; that every moment is to be accounted for; and that health is not something to take for granted. For it is beyond easy to slip into a downtrodden mentality in pregnancy and to become uber-sensitive to the outside world and the changes happening to one’s body. But what joy at these changes!! For they signal a thriving, healthy baby. I would take all the extra comments in the world times a million just to be able to hold my precious child in the end. The strength of these friends of mine are such a testament to their faiths and God’s continued blessings upon them.

In addition, I have been recently blessed with a friend who teaches me about maternal sacrifice on a daily basis. While pregnant with her second child, she and her husband were given the news that the baby had a 5% chance of living. Today, her daughter is 3-years-old and can walk, breathe, use sign-language, and still give her mother every bit of stubbornness! This friend continues to stare death in the face at every turn and every surgery, but does not back down. She has come to appreciate her abundant blessings and wouldn’t have things any other way. What an inspiration she has been to me!!

Would I ever dare open my mouth to complain about pregnancy to any of these amazing women (or to anyone else for that matter!)? Close it up and move on, B-mama!!! 🙂 I am challenged to look beyond myself and see more blessings than ever. Because for all of us, the blessings are always there and always need to be relished.