I woke up with part of Psalm 23 going through my head.
even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Those words have brought me comfort all day. I have been really depressed lately. I want nothing more than to hide under a blanket, curled up in a ball, and never come out. And it has been a bit scary, to be honest. I have a new job that I enjoy but I don't want to go to. I have things that have to be done and all I can think about is when I can be alone and have no responsibility.
I guess I would say I've been walking through the valley of the shadow of depression. But I was reminded that He is still with me, even in the valley. Today was a difficult day. Mother's Day usually is but today was weird on top of all of the emotions going on inside of me. I didn't feel like going to church, it meant having to pretend to be social and ok. I went anyway, my friend was coming to pick me and the kids up for church and I wanted to be there for her.
At church I was holding her two year old son and was asked by an older lady if I was grandma. Yes, I did say grandma. Seriously?????? I do not look that old! This year for Mother's Day the pastor gave the opportunity for people to say a quick word regarding a mom in their lives (their own mom, a mom important to them, their wife, etc). Person after person stood up and talked about the love and support that their moms gave them. And finally I started to cry. My mom has never been the one who I feel will support me no matter what. She has never been the mom who I can call when I've had a bad day. She wasn't even someone I could call earlier this year when I was so sick that I could barely move for two full weeks. Sometimes a girl just needs a mom, but when I need a mom, it isn't MY mom that I need.
Though I love that I get the privilege of celebrating with my own sweet children, Mother's Day is still a difficult day. It is a day of remembering the years of longing for a child and wondering if my arms would stay empty forever. It is a day of remembering that I have never had and likely never will have that soft, warm, accepting relationship with my own mother that I have so longed for. It is often a day of feeling inadequate.
This afternoon at the grocery store, I ran into an old acquaintance. I had worked with her husband many years ago and been "friends" with her by default through working with her husband and being friends with him. She informed me that she was leaving him. Then she told me that she hasn't told him yet and that he will take it hard. I didn't want to hear any of it. Sigh, happy mother's day to me.
I was constantly reminded today that even though I'm walking through a valley, He is with me and He brings me comfort. Today was a day that I needed comfort. It was no accident that it was Psalms that was echoing in my brain from the very moment I woke up. I want nothing more than to isolate and never speak to anyone again. I want to curl up in a ball and cry for hours on end. And somehow, someway, God is going to carry me through. Somehow, someway, He will bring me comfort in the midst of the valley.
***** there was an upside to my day, not to sound like it was a completely horrible, awful, terrible, no good, very bad day. My oldest son made me a necklace out of beads. He worked so hard on it and did a great job. My middle wrote me a book in which he told me that he loves me more than turtles (which if you have ever met this kid you would know that to say he LOVES turtles is a huge understatement) and that he loves me more than McDonald's. I'm pretty sure that a child cannot possibly love more than that! And my baby made me a card and a bookmark. I did enjoy my time with my little family, even in the midst of depression. I'm so blessed that out of all the women God could have given these sweet boys to, He chose me to be their mamma!*****
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