Beautiful Sacrifice

It’s not about justification

And it’s not to say “I’m great”

Because God knows I’ve made mistakes

They’d both tell you that

But sometimes

I see ugly things

Parents

Who hurt their children

And then later

They can’t own up to it

Not even to heal their children

They’d rather be right

And look good in other people’s eyes

Sometimes

You make sacrifices

And that takes little bites out of you

Sometimes it takes big bites, too

But when you look at them

Today

You see them

And they’re amazing

Looking at them stops your heart

And takes your breath away

And you know

No sacrifice is too big

And you’d do it again

Times 10

And you admit your mistakes

And stumble through, learning

Trying to do better

And you’re stronger for having been there

Together

This is what being a parent is

When they’re newborn

And then later, when they’re adults

And every moment in-between

And you’re grateful for the gift

That being with them has been

Amen