In the meantime, tonight, I tried to explain to my eldest niece why I've quit my full time job to stay home with nine children. One of my brothers went through a divorce earlier this year and has custody of his five stunningly beautiful, but rambunctious children.
It is hard to explain my decision, especially since part of me wants to climb the career ladder, to make a difference in my community, to change lives, to become successful in all the worldly ways. I want a nice, neat, clean, normal life. And, yes, I want an easy life.
But, as I tried to explain tonight, the wiser part of me acknowledges that easy, clean and neat aren't always the best. Not for me, not for my children, not for my nieces and nephews. Rather, I have the opportunity to be stretched and to grow, to show love on an hourly basis. I get to learn to adapt to the challenges of nine unique children, to show them Christ. I will most definitely make a difference in my community just by being active in their lives - no matter how small! My days won't be empty, they won't be easy and I'll most definitely fail. But I look forward to the sweetness, joys, fulfillment and learning that will only come from being where I am called to be.
You can do nothing with children unless you win their confidence and love by bringing them into touch with yourself, by breaking through all the hindrances that keep them at a distance. We must accommodate ourselves to their tastes, we must make ourselves like them – St. John Bosco
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