Fearlessness

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith. (Henry Ward Beecher)

In my mind, motherhood is like taking the handlebars of the bike.  You have to take a hold of both to steer, and in doing so you always have both anxiety and faith at equal disposal.  And that to me is motherhood.  That ultimate dichotomy, you must have both.

Motherhood is such a crazy balancing act.  A friend with a college age student recounted a story about that first dreaded call from the ER and her struggle to stay calm.  A friend with a boy the same age recounted the trauma of being told her infant had inoperable cancer, only to come through with flying colors.  And of course the countless stories of unsolicited I love you's, hugs, and thank you's.

If it were all pain, fear, and doubt would we keep doing it?  It is the balance between faith and anxiety, hope and doubt, and love and pain.  We take hold of the handle bars, hold on for dear life, and navigate through each and every twist and turn.  Sometimes they are illness, injury, or tragedy.  Sometimes they are victorious, joyous, and tender.

Motherhood is the ride, the journey that sometimes let's us coast with our hands in the air and the wind in our face; and sometimes leaves us holding on white knuckled.