To keep warm

When I have a quiet moment, there are a whole list of blogs which I like to read. It's kind of like having a lot of little books on the go, with new chapters coming out every now and then.

This was on one of the blogs..

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, 
holy and dearly loved, 
clothe yourselves with compassion, 
kindness, 
humility, 
gentleness 
and patience. 
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. 
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 
And over all these virtues put on love
Which binds them all together in perfect unity.


Colossians 3:12-14

I didn't even realize it right away, but this was the text which Brian and I chose for our wedding. (Funny how you forget the little details so quickly!) It was also the text that my own parents chose for their wedding 27 years before my own. 

And they are good words for today, for these days, with our little girl and figuring out this whole motherhood thing. These words have new meaning when I think of them in light of the big changes in our life lately.

Compassion for mothers everywhere- for lack of sleep, crying all night with babies much fussier than my own (we are blessed, I mustn't take it for granted! Not that she is perfect or anything). Compassion for those who experience the darkness of postpartum depression, of unsupportive families, of sickness and preemies and endless hospital visits.

Kindness for my husband when I am so tired and cranky and just need some more sleep... to keep myself in check and be gracious to him. Kindess for strangers to whom a small baby is such a light in their monotonous days.

Humility to accept help and advice from others, to know that we don't have to be 'superparents', to accept that not everything is always going to get done as it was before. 

Gentleness to this wee one and to those around me. Patience for an endless stream of diapers and leaking milk and just wanting to be held with her little lamb's cry. Being quick to forgive and remembering what is really important.

And over it all, love- a blanket to keep us cozy, a cloak to keep out the bitter winter wind... it will hold us together.