There are situations unique to having multiples. Unless you've stood in the driveway, arms full of two (or more) carseats, a purse and a diaper bag, keys dangling from your mouth, only then realizing you're incapable of opening a car door, you can't understand.
Whenever I read about a celebrity mom who is expecting twins, I always keep up with them, feeling a kinship.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt recently welcomed twins, and I've been thinking about them a lot. I don't care how many Oscars there are between them, I guarantee they're covered in spit-up and poop and haven't slept four hours put together. The media has made great spectacle about how the Pitt-Jolie family now has six kids eight and under. Ha, I said smugly to myself. I laugh at you with your six kids eight and under. Try four kids two and under.
Try five kids four and under, I thought weakly, realizing I haven't quite got that badge yet either.
While the media worked itself into a frenzy wondering what this celebrity household now looks like, I pondered the differences and similarities in our lives:
- My husband and I have a marriage license, Brad and Angie have the tattoos. But I guarantee you bananas stick just as bad to marble floors in French chateaus as they do to hardwood laminates in Alabama.
- For us date nights are chain restaurants and wandering a bookstore, Brad and Angelina set off flashbulbs on the red carpet. But ten bucks says all of our kids are back at home eating frozen pizza.
- On her days off, Angelina literally tries to bring about world peace. I can't even get peace in my living room. But I'll bet both our two-year-olds still have "appidents" in their pants at inconvenient times.
Now here's the kicker that brought me and my smug little reverie to a halt: Jesus loves me just as he loves Angelina and Brad.
Our lifestyles are worlds apart, our goals and world views seem to differ, yet my sin makes Jesus weep as much as hers does. He loves her babies as much as He loves mine.
We are united by our little ones, and a Savior who seeks to make us whole.
So why do we Mommies always want to play the comparison game and WIN?
Whenever my children notice differences between them and other people we see, I always say, "Jesus loves them, too, sweetie. How can we pray for them today?"
Perhaps I should start listening to my own idioms more.
So today, I've prayed for the new parents and the expanded role before them. I've pictured (and remembered) their exhaustion and bewilderment.
And I've done a little pondering on how one might ship a casserole to France….
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Lora Lynn chronicles the insanity and the joy that is family life with four kids (almost five) ages four and under at www.vitafamiliae.com.
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What an awesome post Lora Lynn! Thankyou so much for sharing that!
Hi, Lora Lynn,
Love this post, and boy, does it bring back memories! We had three daughters when our two boys were born; the oldest had just turned 6, and the other two were 2 and 1. Two years later we had a son and daughter — six kids 4 and under, plus an 8 year old. We waited five years to have our last son — he seemed like a vacation! I'll be keeping you all in prayer!
This was a really nice post! I think we get caught up in the "limelight" celebrities live under, and forget the vital part…that they are all God's children, just as we are.
Great post, love the celebrity comparisons and the timely reminder…
What a great post. I often wonder about those celebrities too. Your thoughts made me really stop and think about how ALL of our sin grieves God. Thanks.
Loved this post. You are so right. What a good reminder and encouragement!!