A little food for thought....

I ran across this poem and wasn't sure if I wanted to put it out there on my blog but my sister in law convinced me that I should because it really puts a lot of feelings into words. I am great at putting things into words but some things hit too close to home to actually be able to put into clear coherent thoughts. So here it is and I hope that it can do one of two things for you; either help you understand where someone else has been or help you put into words where you have been.

There are women who become mothers without effort, without thought, without patience or loss. And though they are good mothers and love their children.
I know I will be better.

I will be better not because of genetics or money or because I have read more books, but because I have struggled and toiled for this child.

I have longed and waited.
I have cried and prayed.
I have endured and planned over and over again.

Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.

I will notice everything about my child.
I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore, and discover.
I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life.

I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child; knowing that I can comfort, hold, and feed him.
And that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream.
My dream will be crying for me.

I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child.

Whether I parent a child I actually gave birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love.

I will be a better mother for all that I have endured. I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend, and sister because I have known pain.

I know disillusionment, as I have been betrayed by my own body. I have been tried by fire and hell that many never face, yet given time, I stood tall.

I have prevailed.
I have succeeded.
I have won.

So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort. I see it, I mourn it, and join them in theirs.

I listen.
And even though I can't make it better, I can make it less lonely.

I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth when life is beyond hard.

I have learned compassion that only comes by walking in those shoes. I have learned to appreciate life.

Yes, I will be a wonderful mother.

***Edited to add: Author Unknown***