We have a new baby in our family. On May 6, my sweet nephew and his precious wife welcomed an 8 pound, 12 ounce bundle of boy-joy into the world. On May 8, as they walked through the doors of their little home, their lives would never be the same. How was the first night, was the question of the day on Mother's Day, May 9, as our family gathered for lunch. The new parents, who live many miles from us, had wanted no help on their first night. As all of us "older" moms suspected, the night was a little challenging—a huge departure from the previous nights they had spent as a married couple with no children. Dirty diapers, feeding, crying, walking, rocking and dirty diapers, feeding, crying, walking, and rocking seemed to rule the night. But, as a mom you're not surprised by that at all. Even if you haven't had a baby in your home for thirty years, you can remember this scenario like it was yesterday. Your brain may even be going a step further and thinking, "They have no idea."
It's true, a new dad and mom have no idea what lies before them. That's probably a good thing. Sometimes ignorance is bliss! As I look back over my "mom" career, I see so many things I did right and so many things I did wrong. Many have said this, but I'll say it again, babies don't come with instructions. While we can learn from other mothers and read books by famous authors, each new day with a child is like opening a new deck of cards—slippery, hard to manage, and quickly gets out of order.
So, Mother's Day is for all the moms who have spent the night crowded in a twin bed while they comforted a sick child; for every mom who skipped Bible study group because a child suddenly remembered they were to bring brownies to school the next day; for those moms who anxiously stayed up until their teen came home from that important first date; moms who have never even seen a soccer ball, but volunteered to coach eleven first graders down a soccer field; for the moms who have worked two jobs to keep food on the table; and for the moms who haven't had a good night's sleep since their blissful college days many years ago.
I want to say thank you to all you moms who put your "mom" job as number one! That doesn't mean you don't divide your time a hundred ways, it just means you know what's really important. You know that at the end of the day raising healthy, happy children who love the Lord and want to make a difference in this world is the most important job you do.
There have been calculations done to put a price on a mother's job, but being a mom isn't dependent on the money you make, it's dependent on the love you give and receive. My mother used to use the expression "It's a labor of love" when she would volunteer her time to help someone in need. That's what being a mother is all about—it's a labor of love. From the time we truly "labor" to deliver our babies, we "labor" in love to feed, clothe, and nurture our children.
Moms, keep up the great work. Know that your children will grow up to reflect what you have instilled in them. They won't be perfect, but neither are you and neither am I. I'm just a mom who did the very best I could do and so are you!
Happy Mother's Day to a group of outstanding moms! Thank you for the example you are to me and each other.
Hugs, Chrys
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