living with my hands open

Be yourself, persevere, live in hope, be kind to others…

I think of all I told my girls in raising them into adulthood, all while navigating my own personal challenges and emotions, insecurities, and inadequacies. We wanted to raise strong, gentle, delicate, fierce, loving, tender, honest young women.

We hope they are women who know who they are yet live in humility and compassion. We trust they become women who are not afraid to take risks, try new things, and seek adventure.

We are rounding the corner to the end of high school. In one month, my eldest will turn 21, and 3 days later, my twins graduate high school. They embrace what is next, and are excited for college and all of the opportunities.

As their mama, I considered each season of life and tried to live present, fully engaged, giving of myself. Each season and stage of childhood full of unique challenges and overflowing blessings.

Motherhood has demanded the best of me, but has offered me the most incredible days, experiences, and ways of transforming myself which I never thought were possible. I have wholeheartedly given time and energy and care to my children as we raised them.

“This is how it’s supposed to be,” a good friend told me recently. The friend looked gently but directly at me, and continued —

“Besides, this is about your daughters, and their graduation. It’s not about you.”

Truth.

Those words pierced to my soul. I knew that my dear friend was honest, open about this because they had been there before and had graduated their own kids.

But for a moment, I thought I would cry. “You are right!”

I said to my friend. “Thank you.”

Celebrating my wonderful daughters and their successes, while remembering being that age once, feeling a sense of bounding, unbridled, adventure, and promise. Hoping the same for them.

I will live with my hands open, my heart free, open to whatever opportunity comes our way this next month.