“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~ Harold Whitman. I saw this quote the other day and when I read it, it was as if the words jumped right off the page and embraced me. I admit that I find myself a lot of times in survival mode, feeling like life has tied me to the whipping post, going through the motions, just trying to make it through until the next break comes along. Yet, when I stop for a moment and allow the winds of purpose to fan the flames of who I am and what I am here for, I feel that life rise up inside me like a blazing inferno. It is then that I know without a doubt these are the things that make ME come alive.

(part one)
Being a mother. This has to be the absolute greatest joy in my life along with being the most challenging task I have ever taken on. The responsibilities are exhausting yet the rewards are countless! Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.” I have been blessed with 4 very unique ones, all with magnificent talent and winning personalities – and yes they are fully aware that their personality is inherited maternally :). Children who are full of vibrant potential, destined to be successful in whatever they choose to pursue in life. Children that are hardly ever still!

There are very few things in life that stay the same, this is the one role that will always be a definite; I’ll be a mother till the day I die. I can be exhausted mentally, physically and emotionally and yet still pull myself up out of bed each morning knowing that I am doing the most important thing that God made me for. Becoming a mother changed the type of person that I was. It has taught me how to be selfless, forgiving, humble and thoughtful. It requires me to possess compassion and empathy, along with wisdom and discernment. To be successful at it, I personally feel it demands a close relationship with God. I have done more praying in my life concerning my children and being the mom they need me to be than I have over any other topic. What a terrible predicament I would be in if I didn’t have help and guidance from the greatest parent ever!

It is amazing the satisfaction I feel in my heart when my children are thankful for something I have done, or when they are in distress and I am the one they call on. Words can’t express the pride that radiates when my 8 year old announces to the whole lunch table, “this is MY mom!” or the warmth that penetrates my innermost being when they wrap their arms around me just because they love me. Moments like these are priceless and will be the ones that come to my mind when I am old and not so gray (thanks to Clairol and Manic Panic I WILL be the old chick with cool hair!), laying on the beach, soaking up the sun and sipping on my cool refreshing adult beverage. A few weekends ago, I went and watched a local band perform. The guitar player was incredible to say the least. I don’t think I have ever seen someone play an instrument with such zeal. It wasn’t enough to just hear him, but you were drawn to watch him, to witness the passion he had for the music he was creating wash all over him. As I stood there, with every cell in my body standing at attention, I thought to myself, “being a mom makes me feel like that!” And I was refreshed, renewed and felt alive.

…this is going to be a long blog because I can tend to be very wordy when I am writing about certain things, therefore, it will be continued… Until we meet again ;o)