I love Christmas and because of the truth of this time last year and the continuation of traveling through triggers I got the kids and I new stockings as a way to celebrate our new life in our home together. The print theme we picked out together is the “buffalo check.” I know the kids liked the pattern but to me it means more.
I recently learned the difference between cows and buffalo and how they handle a storm. The cows sense the storm and will try and run from it. The problem is because they aren’t very fast they instead run right along with the storm instead of outrunning it. The buffalo on the other hand sense the storm and wait to see the direction. They then run directly at the storm. And because they face it head on, they actually run straight through it. It is the same storm but the cow and buffalo weather it differently.
Another cool fact I learned is that the buffalo stick together to help eachother out. When predators approach without warning they form a multilayer circle of protection. The females form a circle around the young and the males form another layer surrounding their females.
We didn’t know a storm was approaching but we chose to take this storm head on. As their mom I grabbed their hands and we have walked straight into it as best we can. We are enduring it and have been blessed with more days of full sunshine. The beginning days seemed like we were running with the storm. I remember making the choice to not allow his choices to take from me anymore. I can’t help that there are consequences to his choices that still effect us everyday but we try and take it head on.
I am beyond thankful for those other women that have circled to help protect and love my children and me. I know at times I have felt I was inside the circle being protected. I have also seen incredible men step forward to love, encourage, strengthen and support my kids and me. These are our family, friends, neighbors, teachers, church leaders and coaches. I have never seen so much good in people and so proud to tell my children that we aren’t broken but so loved. To look around us everyday at those that continue to pray and support us.
We are all weathering our different storms of life but may we have the courage to face it head on. The rays of sunshine I have experienced that are new would have never existed if I hadn’t traveled this storm. May we also look around us to be someone that adds a protective layer of love and comfort to someone struggling or be an umbrella to someone stumbling in their storm.