It’s Not HOW I Do it but WHY

  Wouldn’t you love to know how many times you and I have been asked, “HOW do you do it?” I love the proverbial, “If I had a dime for every time I was asked that question, I’d be rich!” as one possible answer to that.   When asked “How do you do it?” I used to say:  

• Oh, the Lord gives me strength, just when I need it.
• We all learn to do what we’ve been called to do.
• You do what ya gotta do.
• Who else is going to do it? (Ok, that has a little attitude attached, can you relate?)

  I’ve started to answer a little differently than I had because those answers really don’t answer what I truly mean.   I recognize that when doing certain things, I must simply get in the mode of what I need to do and just get it done….things (past and present) like:  

• Changing a messy diaper on an older child not yet potty trained
• Cleaning another mess my child made because they didn’t know any better
• Holding my child for days on end when seizures aren’t stopping
• Dealing with his grown up anger or other quirky habits
• Trying to overlook things that drive me nuts (attitude, sorry) like shuffling his feet across the tile floor (I know, I AM thankful he walks!)
• Wondering if he’ll ever learn or “get” things I’m saying, or want him to learn
• Nightly (and daily) homework and therapies….over and over and over and over…
• Helping him learn to interact with his peers, siblings, others, us….politely (yes, this is ongoing!)
• YOU ADD YOURS:

  But what I’ve learned in this ongoing process since 1981 is this: I love him. I will do anything for, with, and because of him. I don’t always like it; but I always love him. And because of that, when I feel like I don’t get out like I wish I could, or I’ve missed another opportunity to meet with friends or dinner out with couples, or I can’t take a trip I’ve longed to take, I realize that I really do have something far more important, and that is a sense of responsibility to my son because of my love for him.   It’s not how I do it, but why…and it’s worth it!