"You have a beautiful family."

I'm so glad you stopped to tell me.

I wasn't thinking so at the time.

I was thinking...

I have a messy family.

I have a chaotic family.

I have an exhausting family.

In fact, sometimes I'm pretty sure I'm failing at raising this family.

But the nostalgia in your eyes tells me otherwise...

You remember the noise and the chaos.

You remember the bickering and spills.

You remember the failures. The try agains. The endless love. The constant prayers.

You remember the sheer exhaustion of good, hard ordinary life with a family.

And you KNOW...

Showing up to this mess and noise through exhaustion (and sometimes tears) is part of raising a beautiful family!!

And I can see in your eyes and your wide smile.

I can see you remembering your own turn raising a family.

I can see the memories.

I can see the love.

I can see the lasting imprint of giving EVERYTHING you had to raise up your beautiful family.

And I'm just so glad you stopped to tell me.

I have a beautiful family.