Truly Blessed

I’ve heard people talk about their childhood. Some say they have come to a point in their life where they realize that the dysfunctional problem they were living with while growing up, was not “normal”. They say “I thought it was normal to ————–“. Then they find out how bad it was, and it seems to explain to them why they have certain problems.
One day I realized that my childhood was not “normal” either, but not because of dysfunction. On the contrary, my childhood was starting to seem different because of how good it was! I’m not saying that it was perfect, or that we never did anything wrong, but compared to so many stories I’ve heard, it sure seemed close to perfect to me.
My parents had a healthy, happy marriage and there was no drug or alcohol problems. My dad worked as an electrician his whole life. My parents brought us all to church every Sunday. We always had food on the table and clothes to wear. (Maybe not designer brand clothes) but good enough, and they were clean. My parents loved and cared for us. They were Christians and taught us by example. I was truly blessed!

An especially prominent time I remember my mother “resembling Jesus” to me was when I was 19 years old. I was unmarried and pregnant. I was very ashamed because I knew this is not what they would have wanted for me. I thought they would be disappointed in me and I was nervous to tell them about it. As my boyfriend and I sat at the table to tell them about it, I put my head down. I kept it down the entire time we talked. At one point my mother said, “look up at me” but I refused. At the end of the discussion, my mother got up, walked over to me, lifted my chin with her hands and said,” I still love you.” I felt so relieved and comforted to hear those words from her just then. She was being an example of Jesus to me at that moment. Even though we sin, he still loves us.

I work at an elementary school and I can not believe how many children are from one parent families or live with a grandparent instead of a parent. It is sad to me how many children have siblings that don’t live with them for one reason or another. In today’s world the family is so broken down, compared to what it used to be. The older I get, the more I realize how truly blessed I was to grow up in a loving, two parent Christian family. Thank you God for my parents. I just wrote a children’s book based on the memories of our family’s pet goat. I enjoy children so much and I hope they enjoy my book!