My mother and I share a very close relationship, one that has grown remarkably since the birth of Isaiah. Today’s post is exceptionally near and dear to the hearts of Paul and me as my sweet mother, Martha, shares an inspiring story followed by the account of her experience raising children. We hope you find solace in the beauty of life’s unexpected adventures from the story below, Welcome To Holland by Emily Perl Kingsley.
From Mother To Daughter
“This story was shared with me when your sister was little, and it surfaces every now and again. It’s really so powerful, not just in dealing with our children, but in every aspect of our lives. We plan our journeys, set our gps, and then discover that the information is no updated, etc…. And we end up on a different route – and it’s a one-way road – no turning back! We experience the unexpected! We see the most beautiful gardens, the most incredible rainbow, an eagle in flight. We eat at a place where, as God would have it, we sit next to someone with whom we share our story. They tell us they have just taken the other route – the one we had so carefully chosen, the one which looked so perfect! The road was rough, there was lots of construction, complete with big machines, lots of noise, long delays in lines of traffic. They are exhausted! Wow! We realize that our unplanned “detour” was really a gift! It fed our souls in a way which the other route would not have!
That is how life is! Had it not been for the detours which I have experienced as the mother of each of you (as you have each provided me with detours!) we would not be who/where we are today! We would not have met the people who are here now to hold our hearts and our hands as we put one step in front of the other, continuing our journey and facing yet another detour from our original itinerary. We would not be able to share the gift of faith, hope and comfort with others as they find themselves in the middle of a one-way street, no turning back. We would not be reading and finding strength in the stories told by those who have taken similar detours and have shared the highlights of their trips!
I thank God for each of you. I thank God for the malfunctioning gps, which led us down this path. I thank God for the joy of new life, with its promise of unexpected gifts along the way! I thank God for the lessons learned and shared when we are not feeling so grateful for the detours, when we just want to get to our destination!
I pray that your journeys will some days go just as planned – predictable, smooth and
effortless. I pray that on those days when there are unexpected detours, you will call on whatever gives you peace and comfort, knowing that, at the end of the day, God gives us a setting sun, with the promise of a new day and the opportunity to get up and start anew!”
– My sweet loving mother, Martha
We love you, Mom.