confessions (of a mama) part.18.

I still remember the fear I had after finding out we were pregnant with our second child.

The fear that I'd somehow lose our special times with our first born - Azi.

Fears that my heart may not be able to 'share' any more love - as if it was supposed to divide itself - for both kids.

Of course, such fears have been completely erased in the faces of these children that miraculously birth new depths of love with each arrival.

The phenomenon of it all reminded me of C.S.Lewis' theory in his book The Four Loves.

He talks about friendship love - and how we actually see more sides of our friend to love when we have other friends around.  You know when you hang out one-on-one with a friend, but then when another friend joins in you see new facets of your first friend's personality come out.

It's as if the second friend has helped show you more layers to your first friend... and thus, you love more about them.  As Lewis says it: "In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out.  By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets".   Make sense?

In the same way... having a new baby in the nest has helped me see new sides to all the other members of our family.  Our older daughter - suddenly the ever-attentive, sensitive, nurturing 'mama in training' to her little baby sister.  Our middle son - now seems big as a teenager of course, and full of zany and hilarious antics... and sweet ones too - as he gently pats the baby on the head like a kitten.  My husband - who once again shines in this department of 'tending the needs of the house' while allowing me to catch up on rest.  Seeing him hold our new daughter is all kinds of crazy sweetness.

Even our community around us has amazed and humbled me with their support and celebration.  I always assume that after you have more than one child, no one really notices or cares anymore.  But I'm always wrong.
We've been buoyed up with blessings here: gifts, meals, cards, visits.
You guys keep teaching me how wonderful friendship is!

So today I celebrate friendship,
family,
and all the facets in between.

Mel ;o)