What do you think of when you hear that phrase? I think of a carefree, easy, fun life! A life that just falls into place no matter what twists or turns you take. But life isn’t like that is it? I soooooo wish it was though! How great would life be if we could have the perfect family, the perfect marriage, the perfect job, the perfect kids, the perfect house, and so on!

It would be great, but you know what? I think it would also take the fun out of life! If everything always went your way all the time, you wouldn’t have those AHA moments, or the moments where you planned this entire day that goes totally south but leads to something different that truly made it so memorable you’ll never forget it! All of the hard things in life make us stronger, if we let them!

I was actually driving today and thinking about a life analogy. War. I know, I know, but forget all the gory stuff and bear with me! Life is a battle. We can choose to fight or to let it destroy us. And oh, how much better life is when we choose to fight! When our daughter, Opal, was diagnosed with Autism, there were so many times I wanted to throw up my white flag and surrender. I didn’t know how to handle all the information, all the appointments, all the judgement from others. But as soon as I decided to continue to have hope through it all, something happened. I actually had hope! If we are fighting a battle with no hope, would we even really fight? If there was no “maybe” or even a guarantee that the fight would be over and we would win? I don’t think I’d even give it a second thought if I KNEW I would lose, which is why hope is so amazing! It keeps you going and it gives you a brand new strength!

I feel like I am in the chapter of that new strength. Finding out that our child has a disorder was devastating and I can’t tell you how many days in a row I cried- almost an entire year. But, I believe God gives all moms this crazy strength to help us keep going for our kids- even when we want to give up time after time because I can tell you it wasn’t on my strength! Don’t give up on hope today! Hang in there! Life will get better! It may not look like what we thought, but it will get better- IF we let it! Don’t let the battle destroy you! Fix your armor, grab your sword, and keep on going Momma! You’ve got this!