A Word About Perspective

I recently saw a video on Facebook...yeah, when I'm supposed to be writing, I waste a lot of time on Facebook. But this video made me tear up. Some of you may have seen it on my page (I shared it). The video was actually a two-for-one...

The Mom Perspective

The first of the video shorts was snippets from the mom's perspective of the day. And this mom was with her toddler and baby who seemed about 18 months. It was everything I remember about my kids that age. The crying while buckling into car seats, the grabbing hands at the grocery store, the diaper blow out, breaking up the fight between the two kiddos, running yourself ragged and being at wits end when your toddler tries to help and drops dessert all over the floor. And, you're done. Yeah, it's a day.

The Toddler's Perspective

Then the video switches to dad tucking the toddler in at night. "How was your day?" he asks. She remembers adventures and kisses while being buckled, how mom played with them in the grocery cart and raced the cart through the parking lot so they would laugh, mom's giggles and tummy tickles during baby's diaper change, kisses with sister after the fight was resolved, and how she and mommy sat on the kitchen floor and tasted the ruined dessert. The toddler jumps up excited and declares to her daddy, "It was the best day ever!"

And mom has come to listen at the doorway and you see tears in her eyes. Because it was about the little things she did...the kisses, the kind touches, the smiles, the fun...not about the moments where she fell short, and ran out of patience.

And this is what I want you to see, sweet mommas. It's all about perspective. No one is as hard on you as you are. Your children look up at you and see your laughter, your kisses, your hugs. And your Heavenly Father looks down into your mess and sees you for who you really are...HIS beloved daughter who is giving this everything she's got.

Let it be what it is. Embrace it even. And let your kids see you smile.