Differences

This is one of my most favorite pictures of Hope as a baby.

At such a young age, it just so clearly portrays her approach to life. And I take great comfort in this photo because at this point she was so young it is quite evident that this is how God made her.

I can't take credit for the good that comes with her being this way.

I can't beat myself up for the not so good that comes with her being this way.

I can only help her navigate the realities of what must be learned when you've been blessed with a very strong will.

I understand the strong will part of her personality. Let's just say the apple didn't fall far from the tree in that department. However, her approach to life is quite a bit different than mine. For years, I have processed her life through my filter and often found myself shaking my head with this child.

I think I have mistakenly assumed since she is strong willed like I am that she must be in the process of becoming just like me. Therefore, I have been trying to get her to see life and do life my way for years.

Then the other day I read this post by Antique Mommy. And I can't shake the truth that I learned from it. Seriously, it has opened my eyes up to the fact that Hope is growing up to be exactly who God created her to be.

Yes, as her parent, there are still life lessons to be taught. But, our differences don't necessarily make her wrong and me right. They make us different.

Even the title of Antique Mommy's post taught me such a powerful lesson. When I first saw the post I would have bet my life on the fact that the title read, "Life is a blast." That is the way I process life so I assumed that's what it read. But at the end of her post, something triggered me to go back and reread the title.

In reality, the title of her post is, "Life is a beast."

I couldn't believe my eyes. And therein lies my profound lesson.

Though Hope is just as strong willed as I am, she uses her strength differently than I use mine. She uses it to make her careful, cautious, and critical of things that don't seem quite right. I use my strength in a much more Pollyanna, carefree way.

To me the glass is always half full. To her the glass is half empty.

And to be honest with you, I've finally come to realize her seeing the glass as half empty is not such a bad thing. It prompts her to be ultra organized and prepared in advance.

Meanwhile, I'm skipping around in my Pollyanna world with a great attitude but not always ready for the reality that the glass is about to be empty and something should be done about it.

To her, the glass is full when it is full. To me, I could care less if the glass is full or empty as long as every body is happy and having fun.

I have a sneaky suspicion she might one day take over at Proverbs 31 Ministries and be my boss. And I've finally come to the realization that if that happens, I would probably be better for it.