Healthy Parent vs. Sick Parent

So, I've come to find, when you're a parent, there really isn't that much difference in what is required and expected of you when you are healthy versus when you are sick.

Allow me to expound upon the two and also, to say in advance, I'm proud of all you moms and dads out there who persevere no matter what hand they are dealt on any particular day:

Typical day for a healthy stay-at-home parent:

Getting the kids up & ready for the day
Playing with the kids

Image by Asif Akbar via Free Images

Making breakfast&lunch

Playing with the kids
Cleaning the house

Playing with the kids

Making dinner

Playing with the kids
Wiping tears

Playing with the kids 
Wiping butts

Playing with the kids
Wiping noses

Playing with the kids
Making desserts & snacks

Playing with the kids
Waking up in the middle of the night

Please no playing!
Waking up early in the morning

Playing with the kidsHelping with homework
Playing with the kids

Being there when they're sick

Playing with the kids

and, finally, 
Learning what you're made of...and most likely again, playing with the kids!

Typical day for a sick stay-at-home parent:

Getting the kids up & ready for the day

Playing with the kids

Making breakfast&lunch

Playing with the kids
Cleaning the house

Playing with the kids

Making dinner

Image by Sebastian Smit via Free Images

Playing with the kids
Wiping tears

Playing with the kids 
Wiping butts

Playing with the kids
Wiping noses

Playing with the kids
Making desserts & snacks

Playing with the kids
Waking up in the middle of the night

Please no playing!
Waking up early in the morning

Playing with the kidsHelping with homework
Playing with the kids

Being there when they're sick

Playing with the kids

Realizing that you are likely sick because your kid was and knowing full well that you'd do it all over again if it meant you get to be with them like you have

And, finally,

Learning...more than ever...what you're made of...and again, most likely, playing with the kids!

Being a parent is hard work, but it's also the best job I have ever had in my life.  Never have I learned more and transformed more than I have since the day my first was born.  What a blessing, what a gift to be here, in this position.  What a blessing, what a gift to be challenged the way we all are, in some ways the same and in others quite different!

No matter how we each are challenged today, 

let's decide now to be grateful 

and to persevere through whatever today's particular hurdles may come to be!  

And if you find yourself on the sick side of the equation today, 

I pray for speedy healing and wellness 

so that you can healthily do the job God has specifically chosen just for you...

Parenthood.