Gratitude: Real Women...

First, can I just say this week seems to be filled with weird comments.  Both weird funny and weird no thanks.  

Let's use today as an example.

This morning, I dropped Rhys off at the nursery for women's bible study.  There are two wonderfully sweet ladies who take care of Homeboy each week.  One is younger than me and one is older than my mom.  Perfect set of women.

(AND....now totally realizing I am so middle aged.  Awesome.)  

They adore Rhys.  Or so they say.  But since I adore him too, I chose to believe them.  

Today, the older lady commented on how "fat" Rhys is getting.  He is filling out.  It's also cold (today) so he was wearing a couple of layers with the outer layer being a fleece one piece.  

So there's that.

Anyway, she went on to give me what I assume is an amazing compliment.

To breast feeding mothers.

"Good job, Momma!  You're feeding him well!"

I tell you, it took every ounce of strength in my body NOT to respond with...

"Thanks!  I rock at the procurement of formula.  Really.  Shopping is my spiritual gift."

She didn't offend me.  Heavens no.  It was just funny.  People assume the strangest things.  

But he is a well-fed, healthy baby.  Even underneath the fleece.

There's another story about check writers, snickers and a WWII vet but I'll save that for another day.  

Today, I spent my morning with a table of women.  

One has a little one who seems to get sick on Wednesdays a lot.  We had a good talk about colds and when do you baby it and let them stay home verses when do you tell them to rub some dirt in it and go to school.  How can you discern when is the time for snuggles and movies verses the time for them to learn not every sniffle is cause for a day off?  

One woman's husband went back to school and praise the Lord, was just accepted into the program he's been working towards.  She's been working several jobs supporting him and their children.  She's tired.  Financially, they are wiped out.  Got hit hard in 2008 (like so many others) and have been working since then to get on a better, more stable path.  They know the terror of lying awake at night wondering if they are going to lose their house.  

One is very pregnant with her third.  A little girl.  And her husband decided last week he didn't like the name they've been calling the baby for the past four months.  Now she's working to correct her other three kids when they dare to refer to the baby by the now former name.  The baby formerly known as Zoe does not have a new name and poor momma is just hopeful her husband will agree to something, anything, before the little girl arrives.  

Another sweet momma is pregnant with her third.  Also a little girl.  She has twin boys at home already.  She knew this baby was a girl right away.  Felt it.  What she didn't feel was something the doctor told her last week at her gender reveal ultrasound.  The baby is very swollen, heart looks to be too small, her bladder was not filling up and the doctor could not find any kidneys.  None of those are good.  She goes back tomorrow for another ultrasound.  She is confident when they look again tomorrow, they will not find a single trace of any of these issues but that baby Grace will be completely healed, healthy and normal.  

Y'all.  These are real women.  Facing real challenges.  Some I cannot even imagine.  I am so grateful to have met them.  Grateful to be able to pray with them and for them.  Grateful to be able to witness how the Lord will be glorified through their struggles.