Wednesday, March 31, 2010

hurdles

the hurdles is an excruciating race for me to watch.  when the
runners trip and fall, i bury my face in my hands.  it must hurt
so much, but they just pop right up and finish the race.  how
do they do that?

moms have more than their share of hurdles.  we carry our
sweet babies within us for nine months, and then we birth
them, feed them, burp them, bathe them, rock them, sing to
them, doctor them, teach them, read to them, correct them,
and of course, love them.

and that is the easy part.

the hurdles of advising them about friendships, romances,
safe driving, college applications, and getting married are
quite a bit higher and come faster than you ever expect.

before we know it, we are tripping over hurdles left and
right.  and we do not have the luxury of giving up, but we
brush ourselves off, make sure we are properly 'refueled',
and head toward the next hurdle.

i imagine the last hurdle will be into the grave, and by then we
will probably be ready for it. :)  hopefully, we will be able to say,
"i have fought the fight and finished the race." (2 timothy 4:7)

after that i expect to enjoy some 'flying.'

love,
lea

ps.  i thought it would be much longer before i came back.  just
goes to show . . . that i never know what i am talking about.

32 comments:

Vee said...

Well "amen" to that and I mean that in the nicest possible way. :D

I Love Pretty Little Things said...

Oh, those hurdles...They do trip us up, but God lifts us back up and gives us a gentle push forward. I'm so thankful!

I Love Pretty Little Things said...

One more thing-
I'm glad that you are back. :)
Joyce

Beansieleigh said...

"Refeuling"... Hmmmm... Are we supposed to DO that every now and then? I think that might my biggest hurdle right there! (0; I seem to forget to do that! ~tina

Darcie said...

You said it so truly...about the hurdles. Thankfully it is the finish line that keeps us going with the reward in view.

Glad you are back so quickly!

BonjourRomance said...

Yes you're right, there are alot of hurdles in life, but the Lord helps us up and back into the race. This is so wondeful how you are sharing all these liitle nuggets of wisdom for Emily - and for us too!
Take care,
Mimi

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

hurdles... yes!! All along the way. If WE aren't jumping them, our kids are!

Especially smiling at your closing comment here. If there's one thing I KNOW, it's that I don't know!!

Anonymous said...

My babies are all young but I know it only gets harder when they get older!

A Tale of Two Cities said...

So glad you're back again so soon....

Debi

carissa said...

so happy you're back! : )

this post reminds me of something my hubby and i have been talking about as of late... rest - and how in Heaven we are promised eternal rest. how beautiful is that! to think about all of the hurdles of living life and to know that an eternity of rest with our Heavenly Father awaits us. wow! this makes me all the more thrilled to celebrate the risen Savior this Sunday!

Anonymous said...

I personally am quite glad you came back so soon! And yes, in both running and mommy-hood, falling is a big part of the training. It teaches humility. The getting up is from God. Missed you tonight, but I'll be back Sunday!!

AiringMyLaundry said...

This put a smile on my face.

Jeannie B. said...

Thank you for your post. I can relate to the hurdles of life with children. The hardest part for me is that I have to watch my children head for the hurdles and I hold my breath and can do nothing but watch and pray as they fall.

Anita Diaz said...

That was wonderful to see! Even with a 10, 8, and three-year-old I see it getting harder. Some days are really hard and we do need a refueling. I guess when you love them so much, you keep on trying to help them choose the right paths.

Southern Lady said...

So glad you're back so soon. You are so right about hurdles. Thank goodness God gives me the strength to keep going. Carla

christy rose said...

Those hurdles do make me feel nervous for the runner too. But it is such a exhilarating thing to watch them clear them all!! As it is when i see someone recognize the hurdles in their lives for what they are, something set in front of them to trip them up, and see them clear them as they run their race and finish their course.

Debra@CommonGround said...

So descriptive, I could see it. I've fallen down a lot and went on limping and bloody. I've even sat on the sidelines and cried for awhile, but with God's strength and direction He lifts us back up and moves us toward the track again. The goal is ever before us, when we keep our focus on Jesus face.
hugs and blessings,
Debra

Aubrey said...

Nick and I were talking just yesterday about how this stage with a two-year-old and a 10-month-old is physically demanding, while later parenting will be much more emotionally and mentally difficult. Hurdles are hurdles, nonetheless.

So glad you're back. Can't wait to see you soon!

ELK said...

thankfully we do not run the race alone .

Joan Elizabeth said...

Well you've jumped another hurdle and many are pleased.

Sue said...

Lea,
What a beautiful post you have written, oh so true. I am truly blessed. Thank you for sharing .
Blessings,
Sue

Anonymous said...

I find that some of the best things in life occur around the hurdles - whether we sail over the top without a hitch or end up dusting ourselves off & going again.
I asked my husband one day why my sister's life had been so hard when she was such a sweet, generous person. He told me that God had very special plans for her, and that He needed her to be strong. When I think of her now, I know she is flying, and I know that she lived her life with strength and courage - which gives me the strength and courage to continue leaping the hurdles in mine. Hopefully, this has also been passed down to my children.

Lisa said...

The older I get, the less I know. Go figure.:)

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

You know, sometimes it takes saying one is going on a blog holiday, to make the [right-for-us] blogging juices flow. :-)))) Funny that, hu?

Whatever... Glad you're back!!!

Oh and did I say that your new posts DO show up in my Google Reader? Bet I didn't. Sorry. Dense of me. They do!

And now I get off the computer and take care of my back. Oh the *Wisdom of the Ages* hu? ,-))))

Kate said...

you are so funny. and i'm so glad you're back :)
love,
kate

Farm Girl said...

Hi, I just read your posts and I am quite in awe. I love your posts and I love how sweet you are. I loved what you said about hurdles and it blessed me. I look forward to reading more of your thoughts, and if you were gone, I am so glad you are back. The title of your blog just intrigued me so I just had to check it out. Not to mention you have 5 children and you like Jan Karon and of course Father Tim. I love how very sweetly you glorify
God.
blessings,
Kim

Parisienne Farmgirl said...

Do I have your email address? Would love to tell you about your paris hotel area...
angelovesparis@gmail.com (You're not bugging me...I love it, will live thru you!)

Unknown said...

You said it sister! We sure have our hurdles don't we? I used to run track in HS & I loved jumping hurdles, but I didn't realize I'd be jumping them for the rest of my life. But there is always a finish line up ahead :)

Staci Danford said...

Precioius post... and man are you right.. I can tell you that raising kids in 2 generations has a few blessings for Brady... but my poor Brent just gets my best try... then I learn and do better with the others... Maybe that's why God smiles special on first borns because he knows they're the "trying our best" kid... Love your letters..
Staci

koralee said...

Us moms do do a lot but we would not have it any other way. Hugs for a blessed Easter. xo

bbb said...

it's not you knowing what you're "talking" about, it's the fact that you "are listening".
love to you my friend

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

A wonderful post! Great analogy and imagery. Boy, do I wish that I could make every hurdle less of an obstacle...that our children may face. But I thank the Lord that we have Him to rely on and to help us...and to face whatever is in front of us.

Blessings & Aloha!