Take a few moments...

This post has been brewing in my head for a while, but I wasn't quite sure where to go with it. Then, the other day I came across this post on the blog of an amazing momma of some quite adorable quads. And I realized this was the perfect opportunity.


Yet Another Jay and Deb Production.
Check out the whole idea here.

If you've been following any of the blogs I read also, you know why our hearts are breaking, and why we are all hugging our itty bitty loved ones oh so close. So many things have been shared with me or have occured to me over the past several weeks, and I have been reminded so often that it is absolutely not, at all, all about me.

Lots of little stresses in life make it hard for you to stop and remember that really- you are so lucky. Maybe you have to play musical bank accounts to pay your bills, maybe you have sick babies and have to miss work, maybe there are a multitude of difficult or frustrating things at home or at work.

But, at least you can move some money around to make things work, at least you have a baby you can miss work for, at least you have a job.

In the grand scheme, there are so many big things we all have to be thankful for, that these little things will pass and it will work out okay. Over the past two years there are several people I am close to who have been touched by tragedy. Some have battled through it and come out on the other side, others have lost much, and have left loved ones behind. I have been there the best way I can, but still sometimes get wrapped up in my life.

The other day I was at a professional development meeting thinking about the trillion things I needed to do. During a break, I was talking with a close friend who is now about 4 months pregnant. We haven't seen each other much lately and were catching up, looking at pictures of her 2 year old and came across a strongly worded election sign from her publicly opinionated neighbor's yard. Which sparked another hearbreaking story. And reminded me those trillion little things were not such a big deal.

This doesn't speak to my opinion or her opinion on the topic, but it really makes you stop and think before you share your opinions- because it is not all about you.

She shared that just before she became pregnant with this baby, she had miscarried. It had been a hard day at work on top of everything else she was carrying on her shoulders. She came home to find her neighbor putting up an anti-abortion sign that said "Babies don't choose to die". She barely made it in the door and all she could do to explain to her husband was point outside. He went out and talked to the neighbor, who eventually agreed to take the sign down.

As I said- not speaking to any opinions about the topic. Everyone is absolutely entitled to their thoughts, feelings, and opinions, but we all need to remember that it isn't about us. We never know what someone else is going through. Just take a few moments and remember there is so much around us that we can't even begin to know or understand. We can at least stop and help those we do know about, if nothing else by sending good thoughts and hope their way.

There are so many terrific things the great blogging ladies are doing right now (and have done, and I'm sure will do) to help others, there is no way I can list them all. Take a peek to the left, check them out and see what you can do to help.