So, how many children do you have?
ah.. um... well, 3, I guess....
Seriously?! What mother can not answer a simple question... how many children do you have? One would think any mother would know how many mouths she feeds... noses she wipes... bodies she bathes. A simple answer for a simple question... right? A simple question, but, not necessarily a simple answer.
If I answered truthfully, I would say I have 7 children... but, sometimes, the truth is harder than a lie. If I answer truthfully and someone starts counting, they would only see 3 E's... Eric, Emily and Ellen. Then the harder question comes... where are your other children?
Do I want to explain? Is it worth it? What will be their reaction be? Will I make them uncomfortable? Do I even go there? Is it worth sharing my heart to a stranger?... not usually... and so the hard question now has a standard answer...
I have 3 kids!
... not the total truth but not a total lie either. I do have 3 kids. I also have 4 more in heaven... for a total of 7 lives that have changed my heart... seven times of hoping and dreaming... seven sets of footprints embedded in my soul. Four lives I've yet to see and three that I watch daily.
I think I need a new answer to this question that is really not so hard...
7 lives for which I am extremely grateful!
** I love to stalk my sister's blog and today I'm joining her as she links in with Jen... join in!
I'm also counting this toward my gratitude challenge with Brenda today!
