About a month ago my dear neighbor passed away. And I wanted to share a sweet little story about him. After Tylor was born and the first time I took him to church. I was nervous...first time moms worry about everything....would I get anything out of church? Would I even be able to pay attention at all? Was it too soon? .....there is always a list of questions that goes through your mind.
We had done pretty well through Sacrament but in Sunday school Tylor had started to fuss. I'll admit it as a young mother I may have panicked a bit. We were still learning each others rhythms. So I left and started to walk the hall trying to calm him but stayed near the door so I could try and catch some of the lesson. Jack was sitting in the hall near the door....he may have have a sleeping grand baby on his
lap (as he was often seen at church) he told me as I came out that Tylor had barely made a noise and that I should go back in.
This might sound crazy but Jack became my ally that day. I know to some that may sound silly but let's be honest parenting is hard and there is no one right way to do but everyone of us needs an ally now and again. Someone in our corner telling us that that battle or choice we just made was a good one and to keep fighting to keep going to keep moving.
There's no one way to find them. Their faces are all different and they sometimes show up in unexpected places. Like the lady in the fabric store I stopped to ask about buttons for the blessing tux for Talmage who told me that my sacrifice would be cherished for generations even though at the time it was hard and I wondered what I was doing with two littles ones in tow. And many even discouraged me taking on a large task with my littles ones.
Sometimes there so familiar that they could be easily missed like on tough days when my father in law remarks what a good boy my son is. As a parent there is so much we worry about with our children's behavior that we miss the big picture from time to time and we need to be reminded to look past the moment.
Other times we may take them for granted like a sister in law or friend who we talk to daily or almost daily to gets us through the battles of the day.
We are all so different and our battles just as unique. But its impossible to always be everyone's ally (unless you are old and that's just plain wisdom! A wisdom I hope to attain someday.) May we reach out with a little more kindness and understanding because everyone is fighting some kind of battle and Heaven knows we need allies!
I LOVE what you are saying here. I have cherished these 'allies' more and more as I travel the parent road. Life is hard and we are much more helpful if we are kind to others.
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