Letter 14

My dearest Peapod,

"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get," as Tom Hanks famously phrased in Forrest Gump reminds me of the choices and challenges we must face in this life. He was right my sweet Maddie Gracie.  With every decision (chocolate) I make (choose), a consequence follows.  I decided to become a mother, and you came bumbling out of me with a cry as melodic as Angels singing.  I decided to marry your daddy, and we celebrate our anniversary every year on December 15.  But not all decisions have pleasant consequences.  I decided to follow the Lord in hopes of an afterlife with Him, but that means to put Him above all others and all else.  I struggle with this daily as I long to put my darling daughter and her needs first.  It means I must give up the pleasures of worldly sins and attempt to live a life free of sin.  Although I fail daily, I must pray for His forgiveness and attempt to walk the next day in his likeness.  I rely on Him for His guidance and pray He shows me the way.  One day, when you are old enough to understand your decisions have consequences, you will have to make the same choices I made.  Will you decide to start a family of your own? Will you decide to marry and share your life with a godly man? And, you will be faced with the same decision to give up this life and its worldly possessions to try and live a life free of sin in hopes of spending your eternal life with Your True Maker.  I pray He gives you strength to face your challenges and choices and the consequences of your actions are what you were hoping for when you make the choice.

I love you my Number 2 priority,

Mommy