My boys like to be carried everywhere. Despite their growing up, they still want their mommy to hold them and comfort them and carry them places whenever possible. It’s getting harder for me to do the bigger they get; but I do try when I can.
The mornings is when they particularly need to all 3 be held at the exact same time. No one’s legs work at 5 am. I understand it. My legs have a hard time working that early too. Usually I have to carry two down the stairs and then come back for the third because I just simply don’t have enough arms to get everyone at once.
The other day I tried it though and it worked. I carried one on my back and told him to hold on really tight, and then I had the other two on my hips. I walked down the stairs very carefully, and despite the 105ish pounds of monkey child strapped to my body, we all 4 made it down successfully. I wanted picture proof of this but a selfie with 3 children wrapped around your body is just not feasible. Sorry folks!
Most of the time when the boys ask me to hold them, they say, “I’m too tired to walk on my own legs. Can you hold me mom?” Even if they weighed 100 pounds each, who could refuse it?
So I scoop them up and I carry them with my legs.
Unfortunately I’m not always able to do this. Not for them, and sometimes, not even for myself.
Sometimes, I’m too tired to walk on my own legs. Sometimes, it’s too hard and I need someone to carry me too.
There are times of my life where I look back and wonder how I got through it. There have been things that knocked me right down to the ground; and in those times, there’s a physical reminder that I wasn’t walking on my own legs.
I think if we are honest, most of life is really too hard for us to do it walking on our own legs. Sometimes we are physically carried by those who love us. Other times, we are spiritually carried, not only by those who love us here on earth, but by the One who created us in heaven. Truth is, He is always carrying us. His legs are never too tired and His arms are always enough.
It’s hard for me to accept help. This is a trait I have always had. I think this is a trait many of us have. There is a sense of need inside of us to handle everything on our own. To be able to say, “I did it myself.” We think it somehow takes away from the success of our accomplishments or even the pain of our trials if we have to admit that maybe we needed help to get through it.
“Generosity is giving more than you can…pride is taking less than you need.” Anonymous
I understand this need, but when you boil it down to its roots, it’s pride. We were created to be relational beings. Life isn’t done in a vacuum. From the day we are born until the day we die, we need help. Kids aren’t afraid to ask for help when they need it; but at some point, pride sneaks in and we no longer feel safe saying out loud, “It’s too hard to walk on my own legs. Can you carry me?” In fact, we even judge each other for asking or accepting help that’s been offered.
There’s a push within us, especially moms (and even more especially, single moms), to not accept “weakness.” To pretend like we have it all together. To figure it out. Make it work. Find the strength. Carry on.
We do it. And we do it well most of the time. But sometimes, it’s necessary to admit our legs are weak and we need help. It’s only in our minds that we are separate from the rest of the world and have to take everything on in our own strength.
My kids remind me that although they think I’m strong enough to carry them continuously, and although I try, it’s ok to ask for help and admit my need to be carried too. I am so grateful that I have a family who has helped carry me, not only through this season of my life, but many. And I am humbled and awed by the fact that I have a God who carries me always.
He carries you too. Whether or not you have people in your life willing to help you walk when your own legs are too tired, there is always a God ready and willing to carry you, if only you ask.
If you’re too tired to walk on your own legs, it’s okay. All of us are. We don’t have to do this life in our own strength. We can’t.
So rest. Be carried. Accept help. You are strong, even when you aren’t walking on your own legs. In fact, maybe it is in those times that you are stronger than you’ve ever been.
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Three Boys and a Mom 
A beautiful post that hit home for me. This past year my world fell apart, and being fiercely independent, I had a very hard time accepting that I needed help, but I did often, and am too very grateful for my family (my parents, sister and children) who helped me get through the most challenging time of my life. I am glad that you have the help of family to carry you when you simply cannot carry yourself. Everyone should be as lucky.
All the best…
http://madcraftingmama.blogspot.ca/
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I am so sorry to hear of the struggle you are facing and i pray you find peace and comfort thorugh it. I’m glad you have the support fo your family and agree that everyone should be as lucky…although we are likely not the norm. You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers! Let God carry you! ❤
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Another wonderful post! I love the pictures you have at the top on your main banner…really adorable.
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Oh thank you! I appreciate that… I was ready to do some rearranging 🙂
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1. The day we told my oldest she was too big to ride on my shoulders anymore, she cried. she thought she could be up there until she was 16.
2. I still will carry my biggest girls, if not on my shoulders or in my arms. It might mean sitting in one’s room as she does homework, in case she has questions, or just wants company. It might be to give one someone to lean on when she’s in an ankle boot, to take a little pressure off.
3. I think we soldier on when we do because we have to. Then we look back afterward and wonder where the strength came from. It is a higher power, I believe, and it’s also within us. I think whatever your belief, a lot of that deity and power comes right out of our own souls.
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Wow, I love this Eli! You are so right that even when we can no longer physically carry our children, we really carry them forever in different ways. I love the leaning on you with an ankle boot…and that she cried when she was too big for your shoulders. So sweet!! And I agree that we soldier on because we have absolutely no other choice, and we find more strength within ourselves we ever knew we had…but it comes from a place much bigger than ourselves!
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What a great post. And I especially loved your quote about generosity and pride. It’s so true. I’ve been carried spiritually lots of times. Thanks for such a poignant post. Wish my boys were small enough to carry these days. I’d break my back if I tried.
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Haha, I hear ya! Thank you so much for this sweet comment. I too love that quote and find it so very true. People are so afraid to ask for help, and so quick to judge those who do sometimes, but really, it’s where we find strength I believe! Thanks for reading and commenting.
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This is Beautiful. I have always loved the footprints in the sand. My son turned 7 today and he still likes to be carried… Sometimes it’s hard as a mom to carry our kids, but we know that the Lord will carry us all!!
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Oh, this is so wonderful, Rachael! I relate on so many levels, from figuring out how to carry three at once, to that fierce independence on wobbly legs, to that surrender to being carried by His capable hands. Here to tell you that need never ends. Blessings, my dear.
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Beautiful comment as always Marisa! Thank you so much ❤
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Aww happy birthday to your baby. I think I will carry them as long as I possibly can haha…then someday, they will carry me!! And like you said, God carries us all always and that is so comforting. I have always loved the footprints in the sand too…My grandpa gave me a hanging version of it when I was in elementary school and it struck me so profoundly then and it still does today!
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Lovely post Rachael! It wasn’t until I became a mom where I actual started asking for help. I couldn’t imagine raising my kids without the help of family.
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I agree Tarynn. It’s such a gift to have family around in the lives of our children. Throughout this single mom journey over the last almost year, I have had times where I felt maybe I’m less of a single mom or less strong or less something because I am living with my parents right now….even though I am still doing everything, I do have support and it lightens my load in a major way. I have struggled feeling like it takes something away from my story or my single momness….and there have even been times of hearing that other single moms said I don’t get all the points they do for being a single mom because I have family support…. All that to say, although I am shouldering the majority of responsibility for my sons, it is amazing to have help from family and for my sons to have the benefit of their grandparents surrounding them each day and being able to see their aunts and uncles frequently. Our families are here for that purpose…to fill in the gaps, so in my opinion, utilizing the gifts we’ve been given is not only good, its necessary! 🙂 My heart hurts for people who do not have that in their lives.
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This was so beautiful, and a very gentle reminder. I really appreciate it…and admire your physical strength! I could never carry all three at once!
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Aw thank you! What a sweet comment… I appreciate that! And I cannot carry them that way for long haha 🙂
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I love this! It is hard to accept help sometimes. Many moms feel like they have to do it all now-a-days.
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I completely agree Megan. We are in an independent society where we are expected by others, and ourselves, to do EVERYTHING, and sometimes…we have to accept and admit that we can’t, and it’s ok! Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Love this, Rachael. So touching. Right now there are things I’m going through that are more private. But it is such a blessing to know that God is there for me and He will carry me through the trials. 🙂 beautiful, touching post.
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Oh Marla, I’m sorry to hear you may be struggling with things. I don’t know what’s going on but God does. Let Him carry you! He always does. 🙂 You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers!
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I really needed this word of encouragement today. I’m right there needing God to carry me through a hard day. Thank YOU
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That’s encouraging to hear that this was encouraging to you! God has a way of telling us what we need to hear when we need to hear it! Thank you for reading and i hope you are having a better day today! Take care of yourself ❤
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Love the footprints in the sand. this was so precious! Sometimes we need help and God is always there for us. I’m lucky my kids aren’t too heavy because they still like to be carried
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Amen to that Melissa! Thank you so much!! 🙂
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This post really spoke to me. I am in one of those moments where you don’t think you can handle it on your own but there is no one to reach out to except god. I am needing the help and I am praying that it is coming. Beautiful way of putting into words what so many of us need to learn.
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Wow, that means a lot to me! God always meets us right where we are. Take His hand. The help is always available…sometimes not how we expected but always how we need it. You will be in my thoughts and prayers! ❤
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This is so sweet and very true, I think accepting help is something we learn to do as we get older and wiser!
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I agree Lauren! The older we get the more we realize we need help sometimes. The more you know, the less you know! 🙂 Thank you so much!!
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