Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Seven

On a recent trip to Ikea, we were approached three times by strangers, asking about our family. "Are they all yours?" "How old are you?" "One, two three...how many?" People coming up because they just had to ask, just had to see, just had to know.

"Six," I say. And then, "Well, for now. Seven in May."



Seven. Some days even I can't believe it.

Our little house is packed with six already but seven? I feel like Maria in Sound of Music, sputtering it in disbelief. "Yes, but...seven?!"

Still, this disbelief doesn't come from the same place that sends sarcastic comments on what causes that or the horrified whispered counting as my kids hop out of our super sized van. Seven?!

This disbelief comes from a place of awe.

Seven.

It's called the luckiest number and I know why - because seven is miraculous. Seven is so much more than I could have ever dreamed of.



I grew up a part of seven. I woke up a part of seven, played a part of seven, learned a part of seven, thrived a part of seven. Being one of seven is a strong part of my identity. I see the world through the lens of one of seven, a person with six other people who have influenced me in that unique way that siblings do.

As an adult, I live as a part of seven. In group texts with my three sisters. Pushing my brother's kids on the swings in my back yard. Praying for them all, by name, with my own children - every day.  Seven kids born to my Mom and Dad have shaped my life and my heart in a thousand ways. Now seven of my own do the same.



It's easy to forget, at times, that this is several times over what is considered normal, because it is normal to me. While seven kids worth of laundry will never be my favorite, nor how long an illness takes to pass through a family this size, seven feels familiar. Comfortable. It feels like family to me, because, for me, it's how family has always been.



A friend asks how we are preparing to meet the new baby and how I think the kids will do. Everyone seems concerned that adding a seventh will somehow negatively impact the kids we have. Push them further away from their established place in the family, make it harder for them to get attention or love. As a middle child in a family of seven, I might be just the one to ask. I think back on that June day when we all rushed in to see our Mom cradling her seventh, and the only thing I can remember is joy.

I know on some days it will be more than I can handle. Some days it may feel like more than my heart can hold. It is sure to showcase my shortcomings on a daily basis. It will drive me to my knees more often than not.



But that's how blessings work. They teach us, time and again, that gratitude, struggle, thankfulness, humility and reliance on the Maker of all things - all these things are pure joy. Not because they are easy, or don't change us.

But because, incredibly, they do.

We've got ten weeks to go and she wakes me gently each morning, sleepily turning over inside. My beautiful, wonderful, amazing number seven.


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7 comments:

  1. This is beautiful Lydia. And this says it all..."But that's how blessings work. They teach us, time and again, that
    gratitude, struggle, thankfulness, humility and reliance on the Maker of
    all things - all these things are pure joy. Not because they are easy,
    or don't change us. But because, incredibly, they do."

    Wishing you all the best in these final weeks.

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  2. OH this just made my heart swell!!! I didn't realize YOU were one of seven! What a wonderful thing to know that you loved your childhood so much that you're recreating something similar for your children. So often people try to change everything about how they were raised in an attempt to do it "better." I just love that you love your past. That's what I want for my kids. And as we begin to ponder a fourth, this just makes my heart explode with the possibility of it all. How badly I want for my kids to be surrounded by brothers and sisters and grow up and push their kids on the swings and pray for each other by name. Unfortunately, today's society doesn't always see the beauty in that, so we tend to focus on the negative, the difficulties, and the potential disaster (what if they grow up to hate each other! or me?!). Thank you for giving us your beautiful perspective of love and hope :)

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  3. Yes Tatiana! Not only am I one of seven, but oddly our gender line up is exactly the same as my family of origin. I feel like I get to grow up in my wonderful family all over again! As to my siblings, three of us still live here in town, one just an hour away. The youngest is in school in the south and missed every day, and the two oldest live out east. We are all still very close and enjoy one another so much! I want that for my kids.

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  4. Beautiful! I have seven of my own, and while I did not grow up in a big family, I always wanted to. I loved being in the homes of big families, and I adored their sweet mothers. There is such joy in a home bursting at the seams with love.

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  5. Thank you. I always wanted a lot of children my daughter has given me 6 and another on the way. I had 3. As I was reading, I remembered thinking how nice it would be to have family that were friends. Enjoy!!!

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  6. "I grew up a part of seven. I woke up a part of seven, played a part of seven, learned a part of seven, thrived a part of seven. Being one of seven is a strong part of my identity. I see the world through the lens of one of seven,"
    Just thinking how profound that is! I grew up as one of eight and you're correct I see the world through an eight lens, we have ten children and I daresay our children will see through a 10 lens.

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