Reminder

It is no secret when you talk to me that my kids make me crazy.  My mom reminds me that everyone's kids make them crazy.  They are kids.  That is what they know how to do.

We took a little trip to the cemetery to water my dad's flowers.  Brendan and Lila were great helpers.  They took turns watering and visiting with Grandpa Paul.  Brendan eventually started watering the graves around my dad and Lila went in search of pine cones.

A short while later an SUV pulled up behind my car and a nicely dressed woman got out.  She walked up to a grave near us and began tidying it up.  She commented on Brendan being a great helper with a smile then went back to watering her flowers.  She was there about 10 minutes and we both commented on how dry the plants were despite all the rain we just had over the weekend.  Then she quietly washed the granite with her water, stood up, admired it, and slowly walked back to her car.

I knew immediately who she was as soon as she arrived.  The mother of the 14 year old year that passed away 4 years ago.  We often walked past her marker and gazed down at her face on the stone.  So so young to be gone.

Brendan asked who the woman was and I told him it was a young girl's mommy taking care of her flowers just like we were taking care of Grandpa Paul's.  Now she was in heaven like grandpa to which he responded,

"Awesome!  I want to go to heaven!"

Oh the simple mind of a 6 year old.  Understanding yet not understanding.

It was in this moment that I got my reminder from God loud and clear.  Yes the children may make you crazy, frazzled, upset, and frustrated.  Yes you may not enjoy how they are acting.  Yes you may not even like them.

They are here.  I can hold, hug, kiss, talk, play, and enjoy them.  They are here.  Enjoy them.