Inspiration

It's a word that I have reflected on a lot lately. I seek out people who inspire me. There are amazing people in this world who make us want to be better people. These are the people I want to learn from. I have been stunned by people who have approached me to say that my family has been an inspiration to them.  I have had others tell me that I am an inspiration to them.  Really???  Do they know how absolutely inadequate and broken I feel most days?  They find me to be an inspiration???

The online Miriam-Webster dictionary defines inspiration as:

The action or power of moving the intellect or emotions.

I have seen people interviewed on tv that have moved my intellect, making me want to be a better person.  I have felt moved emotionally as I am in awe of other's stories of triumph as they overcome difficult circumstances.  That's when it dawned on me...the people who inpsire me most are not the ones who have lived perfect lives.  I'm not inspired by people who have made all the right choices in life, but have never been faced with hardship.  Hardship and difficult circumstances can define us--either for good or bad.

It's the people who are handed difficult circumstances, who rise above the tragedy and the hardship that are most inspiring to me.  Life is tough.  Life can beat us up.  Life doesn't always turn out the way we would like it to.  What is inspiring is when people live lives of joy and love in spite of the challenges.  Inspiration comes from people who refuse to let the difficult things in life keep them down.  These people take difficult circumstances and use them for good.  They change lives and make differences.

Many times in my Christian walk, I've been told that God doesn't give us more than we can handle.  I've often laughed and said that God surely has a higher opinion of me than I have of myself.  Angela Brock is a divorced mom of four children; her youngest was born with a Congenital Heart Defect.  She started a Mended Little Hearts group in the city where she lives, and works tirelessly to raise awareness about CHD's and support other families who have children with heart disease.  She recently said in an interview on the Today Show,

"You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice."

The reality is that heroes choose to be strong.  There are many people out there faced with difficulty who don't choose to be strong.  There are those who are afraid, or think that the circumstances they face are too challenging,

and they walk away...

Its out of our brokeness that inspiration happens.  Inspiring people face challenges head on with determination and love.

The New Century Bible says it best:

We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him.  They are the people he called, because that was his plan.  Romans 8:28

We live in a fallen world.  Bad things happen.  Real heroes, inspiring people, choose to rise to the occasion and change lives.  Maybe it's just the life of their child, maybe it's the lives of many.  Be inspired and be inspiring! 

I still don't know how people can see me as inspiring, but if that's so, I hope that the people who are touched by my life will be inspired enough to influence other's in their circle.  Pay it forward, and make your life count.

I have felt led to share a video of a father who is absolutely the most inspiring man I've ever seen.  He is an amazing father!  He demonstrates in a very real, very physical way, the love he has for his son.  The first time I saw this video, I sobbed.  He is a flesh and blood example of our Heavenly Father's love for us.  Enjoy the clip about Team Hoyt.  (Don't forget to mute the music on the playlist at the bottom of the page so that it doesn't interfere with the video.)

Blessings.

Welcome to Holland

I first read this poem in the packet of information that Denver Children's Hospital gave me when AnnaSophia was admitted for her first open heart surgery. Things were so uncertain at that time. The doctors told us that with her constellation of defects (interrupted aortic arch, VSD, ASD, bicuspid aortic valve), she was over 95% likely to have DiGeorge Syndrome, and could have learning diabilities associated with that. She could likely have a stroke from the surgery, have the nerves to her vocal chords damaged from the arch repair, or have major mental retardation due to the lack of blood/oxygen from bypass and surgery.

I know that they have to prepare us for the worst, but this was so much information to be dumped in my lap. I looked down at that beautiful baby in my arms and knew that I would always love her no matter what. It didn't matter what challenges lay ahead for her, she was a gift, and I would always love her as such.

A month later, Ethan was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. What??? I think I've heard of that, but I'm not sure what it is or what this means. Autism??? Really??? Me being the Research Queen, I started reading everything I could on Autism and Asperger's Syndrome. It explained a lot, really. Without having an official diagnosis, I knew that Ethan was different. I knew that he didn't easily fit in with the rest of the world, but that was ok. We adapted. We aimed for success.

As time moved on, AnnaSophia showed absolutely no signs of learning disability. She recovered well, and genetic tests showed that she was one of the rare kids with her constellation of defects who did not have DiGeorge Syndrome. Even though I breathed a sigh of relief, I didn't love her more or less because of it. Ethan got the help he needed, and I strived to understand him better. I was able to make changes in our home that helped with his success.

Today, both of them are doing really well, in spite of challenges and setbacks. They are amazing! The analogy that is painted in the poem Welcome to Holland is so beautiful. I planned on going one place, but life took us somewhere else. It's not bad, just different. Once you embrace the different place where you are, you can enjoy the beauty that is there. It's not bad, just different.

Please enjoy the video, and don't forget to mute the music at the bottom of the page so that it doesn't interfere with the video.

Blessings.