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She Sees Her Son’s Hands And Realizes The Heartbreaking Truth Can No Longer Be Hidden

If there is one thing that all mothers are interested in, it’s taking care of their children. From the time that they are very young, they are under our care and we do our best to make sure that they are healthy, happy and well-balanced. This is something that many of us promise from the time they are born, but life tends to get in the way sometimes. It can be harder to live up to that promise when the realities of life set in and we find that financial problems are a regular part of our lives.

This mother of five, Cassandra Lane, knows how difficult it can be to raise children. Like many homes, they experience financial difficulties and sometimes, they have to sacrifice in order to get by. Regardless of how much struggling may happen, Cassandra does her best to love her children and show that there are more important things in life than money. Recently, however, she saw something that made her question her abilities as a parent.

Cassandra was with her son, Zeke, and they were having high school photos taken. When she came to this sudden realization, she shared an emotional conversation she had with Zeke a few days later on a popular Facebook page.

“Earlier this week we went to get Zeke’s senior yearbook pictures. On the way, I noticed his hands. Working hands. Hands that look familiarly like my dad’s work-stained hands and like Brandon’s in the early years of our marriage.

I told him not to worry about it because they were doing headshots. I was wrong.”

“As we sat in line, I notice kids in letterman jackets with their class rings. And I notice Zeke’s stained hands. I began to tear up. Have I given him everything a parent should give to their child as he has grown up? He works out in the heat, 30-40 hours a week during the summer. He didn’t want a class ring or a letterman jacket. He didn’t get a new car. The mommy comparison game tells me I didn’t show him how much I love him with things. I left there feeling bad about myself and how we have raised our son.

I’ve been reflecting the last few days and crying a lot, honestly. I apologized to Zeke and he laughed at me. He said, ‘Why are you sorry? Because you’ve taught me to work hard for things I want? Because I know the value of a dollar? Because I’m not going to think that I deserve to have everything I want?’

And my sister reminded me that the best things in life aren’t things, but relationships, and any shortfalls in my parenting are covered by God’s grace. So, mama’s, if you’re struggling with the parenting comparison game, just know that God gave you the babies you have because he wanted you, YOU, to be their mama. Not someone else.

I am beyond proud of Zeke, who has taken his brother shopping for a canoe today, using his money that he earned in a vehicle that he fixed with his own hands and gas he paid for by himself. I’m not ready for Zeke to grow up, but I think he’s well on his way.”

Zeke was not upset but he was very happy that he was raised in a family that taught him what was most important in life. He knows the importance of having to earn something through hard work.

We may never be able to provide everything our children need but we can always give them love and attention. That is the most important thing in life.