Parenting at any level truly is a rollercoaster ride. Especially when you have the opportunity to raise a child with your spouse. Let’s just say, it involves a lot of differences of opinions and many middle-ground conversations. Easy? absolutely not. But, when you learn to pick your battles and understand that nothing is worth hindering the peace in your house, you learn to compromise.
Gentle reminder; you and your spouse our learning and experiencing parenthood through two different lenses, extend grace momma.
That being said, as a house, we have made it abundantly clear that we are individually very protective of Hannah in different ways. Hannah is turning two soon, which is insane to even say out loud and I get emotional at recognizing how far the Lord has brought us. Nonetheless, I have recently realized that the bigger and brighter she becomes, a part of me aches just a little. In this medical world, we’ve lived in, we have intentionally kept Hannah guarded, and for good reason. Nothing in reference to her appearance, but mostly because she still has a tracheostomy in place which means her health is a priority always, no matter what. However, because her health has always been the priority we’ve overlooked and really disregarded the physical differences of our child because honestly, we don’t really see them. I have never made it a habit to compare my daughter to anyone, because frankly, her life is such a milestone alone, that we have understood anything after that is purely and act of the grace and favor of God. But in this world that we’ve guarded her against, her appearance speaks so loud.
I was reminded this week, that my daughter was made in the image of Christ, and if her appearance speaks loud, let it scream to everyone around us that God’s hand and favor are profoundly at work in this child’s life. Where death, shame, and fear met us, so did the resounding joy, love, and peace of the Lord and those are the things that have kept us and will keep our daughter as she navigates different social experiences.
None of what you’re going through will EVER be in vain when God is maneuvering the pieces of your life.
Growing Grace 