Being Thankful - Day Three and Four

I had to miss yesterday so I'll do a combo post.  Today, I am thankful for my husband and my children.

There are so many cliches I could fall back on, and there is a reason for them.  They make an attempt to explain the blessing of the relationship of a good husband and the blessing of having children.  I'm not sure I can stay away from them entirely.

Jmk is the type of man that I would want my daughters to marry.  That's the most accurate description I can give of him.  He is loving.  Accepting.  Patient.  He forgives.  He trusts me, believes in me, leads me.  He provides for his family tirelessly both in a financial sense and in an emotional sense.  Sandwiches for supper because it's been an impossible day and I have absolutely nothing planned to cook?  He thinks it's great!  House is a disaster area, kids are all in their rooms being punished, and mama is considering running away to Tanzania come 5pm when he comes home?  Doesn't phase him, no matter how exhausting it is to walk into a war zone after having been at a stressful job all day.  He'll help with laundry, help get supper on the table.  He does the lion's share of grocery shopping so I don't have to schlep the kids out after a long day of school.  He doesn't look at the dust and gunk and grumble.  He tells me everything looks great.  He accepts the cluttered, oddly organized house because he embraces homeschooling.  He communicates with me, talks with me, about everything.

Being unconditionally loved by your husband, being able to wholeheartedly trust your husband, knowing that your husband has the family's best interests at heart is something for which I am humbled.  And Thankful.  Way down into the depths of my heart.  Because God put us together, and He made it happen in spite of all the dumb decisions I've made over my life.  I love you Jmk!!  (And he won't even get mad at me for posting all this even though he just hates this kind of thing!)

I'm also so very grateful for my children.  I'm so keenly aware of how much of a blessing it is to even have children.  So many of us take it for granted, I dare say.  And Jmk and I know how big of a blessing it is to get through a pregnancy.  But just to get pregnant is a miracle.  And for us to have been blessed with three children is such an enormous gift that we simply don't deserve.  But, I give all praise to the Lord for His mercy and His grace.  I don't do such a great job at mothering some days.  Let's be honest.  I get mad, lose my patience, drop the ball on SO many things.  But, yet, those precious children still love me, forgive me, come back to me every morning with hugs and and love and an honest desire to be with me.  What a blessing it is to be a parent!

Y'all, there are a lot of days that I don't feel up to the task of guiding a human being into adulthood.  Those are the times that I realize the the Spirit is handling things for me, because somehow these kids manage to learn something and manage to grow in their love for the Lord, even on the days that I'm about as personally effective as overcooked spaghetti.  For that, I am humbled.  Because let me assure you, I do not deserve that kind of grace.  But that's what grace is.  Getting something in spite of what we deserve.

As I've tried to type this out this morning, the littlest has already come up to me to read her something, and I've said "no".  But, as soon as I quit and go read to her, she'll be SO glad and happy and she'll think I'm just the best thing since they put the pocket in the pita.  Thank you Lord for the tender and loving hearts that you give to children!  And, thank you Father, for allowing me to be a parent.  My heart is heavy with gratitude and thankfulness for this family that you have given to me, in spite of me.

All praise and glory to God!