I'm not selling any miracle creams today, but I ran across this idea in the early hours this morning that I wanted to share with you.
Motherhood (pregnancy, specifically) has left me with physical stretch marks. Not to get too personal, but they start off red and itchy, but age gradually to a silvery white. Mine are numerous but fairly small, scattered from my waist to my upper thighs.
But the really helpful stretching of motherhood is what you can't see. Children and family life have stretched me emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.
Emotionally - I've had to come up with some way to explain the death of a grandparent. We've struggled with societal values... "Mom, some of the kids in my class don't like gay people. What do you think?" We have been hit with heartache and financial trouble, sometimes at the same time.
Intellectually - I've had to answer little people questions about Western expansion in the 1800s, miracles in the Gospels, and molecular bonding. I know more about beetles and dragon mythology than I ever expected.
Spiritually - I've had that feeling frequently of your heart expanding almost painfully to love three fairly new human beings. I've wondered with them over the glories of creation, from the Grand Canyon to a spider in the family room. I've struggled to stay present to my family - to pause the hum of worries and to-do lists in my head and really listen.
All these stretch marks are badges of honor. How are you being stretched today?
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