Would I if I could?

Recently, I've been asking myself this question, "If I could stop every hurt, everything painful from happening in my children's lives, would I?" On the one side that's a very easy answer, "YES". I want to keep them from painful experiences. Yet, on the other side, do I? I know from my own life that it's only in the hard times that I grow; that I become more the woman God wants me to be. Could I want anything less for my children? No, of course I want them all to grow up to become strong men and women of God, but can they do that without the pain. Growth requires pain. I know this. Everyone knows this. Yet, there is a small part of my "Mommy's Heart" that wants to shield my children from this pain. I want to fight their battles. But am I called to. Or am I called to teach them how to fight their battles? Or am I called to give them the tools to live lives that honor and glorify God? How can they ever learn these important lessons unless they suffer some hurt? Unfortunately, they can't...

Beginnings...

That's the thing about beginnings...their new. By definition it is "the point or space that anythings begins." These beginnings can be good, they can be sad, they can be exciting, they can even make you angry; yet, whatever the case may be, they are new. I have always been one to like beginnings; I have always looked upon them as a way to start over and do better. I have succeded sometimes in this and sometimes I have failed, but it has always been an adventure. Recently,  our lives have been one new beginning after another. Truthfully some of those beginnings have been good, some have been wonderful, and one a little eye opening. But they have all been new. Beginnings are also God's way of leading you down paths you might never have seen coming or might never have chosen if left up to your own choosing. Those are the best beginnings; I think. The ones that take you to places beyond your imaginings.