A Sweet Encounter

We live in a retirement area, so there are always an abundance of grandparent-types around, no matter where we go...church, grocery store, out to eat, park, wherever. This afternoon I needed to make a run to the grocery store for some odds and ends, and mostly because when I did our shopping for the week, I forgot that tomorrow night is potluck supper at the church, so I needed to get supplies for that. So, I did something I rarely do. I went to the grocery store by myself with all 3 kids. Usually, I either just have one child with me, or if all 3 kids are along, I have my husband, too. I will have to say that this (taking all 3 of them by myself) is much easier now that M is walking. So, back to the grandparent-types...

As we were walking up to the front door of the store, M was holding my left hand, K was holding my right hand, and MJ was holding K’s other hand. So here we walk, our own little family red-rover team. An elderly couple was leaving the store at the same time as we were getting there. The lady’s first question was, “Are they all yours?” Valid question, considering the number of times I’ve assumed I’ve met a kindred spirit with several small children, only to learn that one is a nephew, niece, friend’s child, etc. I said that they were all ours. She then told me that they were adorable, and that she had 2 girls and a boy as well, and 2 of them were 13 months apart (all grown up now, of course). She also told me this, “Enjoy every minute of it!” Such a sweet encounter, and such a reminder to me as a mom that the time flies, and even when things are tough and I’m having a rotten day to seek out how God has blessed me in so many ways by allowing me to be the mother of these 3 children. What a big, special responsibility!