Today’s Victories

Day by day…that’s how life’s victories are fought and won. We don’t measure a year…we measure three hundred, sixty-five days. Three hundred, sixty five chances to get it right, to get it better, to pay attention to the most important details, to meet your potential. As a woman, as a wife, as a mother – to do your best, even if it requires more energy than you think resides within you.

Today, I won.

I found the energy to drag a two and a four-year-old across town (after getting them ready – no easy task) for the older one’s Nephrology appointment. Snacks packed, toys packed, dragging them through the parking garage, into the maze of hallways, and down to the right waiting room to do just that…wait.

I found the energy to drive to every McDonald’s we could find, hoping for one with an indoor Play Place, because they were such big boys during the long, tedious doctor’s appointment.

I found the energy to make my house a home, filled with the sweet scent of fresh candles, combined with hints of Lemon Lysol, fabric softener, and Windex (ok, the last one – not so sweet).

I found the energy to take both of my daughters to their volleyball practices, with those same two little boys in tow, chasing the two little brothers off the courts as not to embarrass their older sisters too much.

I found the energy to make sure everyone had some dinner in their bellies…

although I left half the chicken frying in the oil as I ran frantically upstairs, vinegar and banana in hand, hollering after one of the girls to bring the apple juice to chase the vinegar with, and then ordering her back downstairs to watch the hot oil – as I combined every home remedy I know for extreme muscle cramps, with a heavy massage to the leg of my screaming teenage son.

I then found the energy to lay on my stomach, face to face with him where I left him on the floor, to hear about the details of his day.

I also found the energy to talk with my teenage daughter, who is firmly seated in the front car of that emotional roller-coaster we all ride on at that age, about how much better tomorrow will seem. About how true friends will build her up – not tear her down. About how much I love her…

and then I found the energy to go clean up the kitchen, even though it’s her night, because I wanted to take some of the day’s pressure off of her.

I found the energy today to wrap my arms around every one of my children, and my husband.

And now I will find the energy in myself to stop and thank God. Not just for supplying me with enough energy for this day…but for filling my day with enough to spend my energy on.