Mom Hero
Mom Hero
Hello April and Hello Autism Awareness Month!
I do love that we can take this month to shine a light on Autism and what that means to so many people. Sometimes we just don’t know what we don’t know – especially if it doesn’t affect us directly. So let me encourage us all to take a few moments to learn a little bit more this month.
I love today’s See Hear Love show with our friends, Randy & Nadine Mitchell! (They. Are. Incredible.) You will instantly love them and be drawn to their every word. Now, I don’t know everything about Autism or what it’s like to have an autistic child…but I do know my friends and how inspiring they are.
Have you ever just had those days where you felt like it was all too much to handle? Of course you have! And I have, too. I have had those ‘mom days’ where I totally wanted to go on strike. And then I am reminded of my friend, Nadine, and my challenges seem incredibly small…because they are. Nadine is a ‘Mom Hero’. She just really is. And I just want to talk about her for a minute.
I have had the honour of meeting sweet Caleb and spending time with this amazing family. I have had just a small glimpse into the daily care it requires to help their precious boy. It’s no small task and I know the journey with Caleb’s autism has not always been easy. But I have also had a sweet glimpse into what love and grace and faith looks like. You see…my friend, Nadine, is one of the strongest people I know. She’s also one of the humblest people I know. I look at her and see courage and tenderness. I look at her and see the deepest mother’s love. I don’t know what it’s like to live out her days. I don’t know what it’s like to care for an 18 year old boy with a 2 year old capacity. I don’t know. But I do know that love and beauty flow through my friend in the most remarkable way. Has she felt broken at times? Yep. Has she struggled with God and disappointment? Uh-huh. Has she felt unable to be all she wanted to be? Yes. Has she questioned and wondered and prayed? Yeah…all that, too. And I’m glad that she has – because it makes her a real gal (& haven’t we all questioned and wondered and been broken?!) and it has made me admire the rich beauty I see in her. The beauty in loving without condition. The beauty in trusting that God always sees the bigger picture even when we don’t. The beauty in living grace and kindness and sheer loveliness – even when she really doesn’t have to. The beauty in giving selflessly.
There’s a verse in the Bible that says:
Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise:
“Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!” {Proverbs 31:28-29}
Ah, yes…indeed. I have never seen Nadine without a smile. I have never heard an unkind word fall from her lips. Through the hard days and challenges, the good days and joys, and, well – all the days – she has shone the light of Jesus. And so, when feel like I am having those “this is too much” kind of days…I think of Nadine. Yes, my friend – you’ve outclassed them all!
