A Family is a Blessing From God

Nice pic, but we DEF need more family pix

Last weekend, I was blessed enough to meet a family that is incredibly amazing and left me awestruck.

Since my encounter with them, I have not been able to stop thinking about them and praying that God continues to bless and keep them. I really don’t even know what to say, just wow. They left me speechless and I’m excited for the things that I know God has in store for them. I don’t even know where to start. The father is very protective of his family and it’s so apparent just being around him. He’s going to do what needs to be done to ensure his family is safe. I think that’s awesome. In a world where most images of black men show them up to no good, it’s refreshing to see a black family man. You can see the love he has for his family and that makes me so happy. I’m definitely praying for renewed strength for him because to be the leader and protector is not an easy task and it’s obvious he doesn’t take his job lightly.

The mom…is such a strong woman of God. Her faith in God is unbelievable. And it’s contagious. LOL. It’s amazing the wisdom and blessings you can get from simple conversation. I worry about Temi all the time. I wonder if I’m showing her too little love, if the food I’m eating is gonna cause her to have a severe reaction to my breast milk. If EVERY decision I make is the right one. Everyone has an opinion about how Todd and I should raise her and what we should be doing and those opinions contradict each other and it can be overwhelming at times because you never know which one is the right one. This mom told me that at the end of the day she gives it all to God because she doesn’t know what else to do and she finds peace in knowing that God is good. It might not seem like an epic, revolutionary statement, but you had to witness the conviction with which she said it. It was so0o0o comforting.

One day, their child is going to be an adult. A strong adult because that child has strong parents that are building a strong foundation for their family. That’s a blessing to witness because I know, as a parent and as a child with a “modern family,” how hard and delicate that balance is. Mommydom is scary. I can’t speak about Daddydom, but I imagine it’s equally as scary. You’re solely responsible for somebody else’s life now. You have to move past the mistakes you and your parents made, learn from them and do better for your child(ren). You have to compensate for the dangers of the world that you can’t control. There are days that I wonder if I’m doing it right. If I’m cut out for this. If Temi’s gonna grow up and look at me like, “Who the h3ll decided she was fit to be my mom.” After meeting this family, I know that I don’t have to worry about those things. Their story is so inspirational. And if they can get past their fears and build a strong foundation for their family, then we can too. Because Todd and I too are strong and we both know that God is good and everything’s gonna be okay.

So when I say my prayers, I’ll be praying for not just this family, but for all the mommies and daddies I know. Being a parent is a scary job and from time to time, we all need that extra strength and assurance to get thru the hard times, no matter how big or small. To have inner peace when we don’t know what else to do.

And as with everything, I’m going to love on Temi a little harder because everything I witness, good and bad, makes me realize just how much of a blessing and miracle she is to me and Todd. God makes no mistakes.