My heart is full today.
I sit here at night and look and listen to my children sleep and cannot help but be grateful for their presence in my life. I think back to my 25 year old self who held her first little boy in her arms totally intimidated, but more in love with him and his father than I could ever imagine in my life. At that point in my life, as I looked at this sweet little baby who needed so much and did my best to soothe, comfort and love him, I couldn’t help but be so greatful for the amazing women who came before me.
When I was young and would hurt, the only thing that made me feel good and comforted was a giant hug from my mom. She always knew the right thing to say. Many times just listening. I came from a mother who knew. She knew what was most important in her life and it showed in how she lived. She was selfless, giving all of herself everyday in both her profession and at home. And it showed in the way she was loved by everyone. She was a mother not only to the 5 kids she bore, but also to the thousands she taught over her career.
I must also tell you how blessed I feel to have married into the family I did. I am married to a man who loves and respects his mother more than anyone else I know. She is another blessing in my life who has taught me by example just how amazing and what a blessing it is to be a mother.
Motherhood has been the greatest teacher in my life. Selfish turned to selflessness in an instant when my first boy was placed in my arms and has only grown with each child who has come. Patience turned to frustration and then turned back into increased patience. (Please tell me I am not the only one who struggles with this one!) I notice the small things in life and my greatest inspiration for my creative self has been found in watching and listening to my children. I love them for that. I have always had a creative mind, but I don’t think I found my creative style and self until I was smack dab in the middle of mothering. They color my life, they help me see a black and white world in full color. Mothering is what is refreshing in my life. I can always sense where I am in my life by my approach to mothering that day. And there is nothing as fulfilling as having a day where I worked really hard at being a good mom.
And I think that is why God gave us a chance to be mothers. By caring and nurturing, He can show us who the best “us” is..and it also shows its blaring faults as well. (But isn’t that life? We are sure to take the bad with the good.) And that IS certainly something to celebrate. Because life is good and being a mother is incredible and being a daughter to an amazing mom have been the most amazing blessings in my life.
So to all of you women, Happy Mother’s Day (a day late), whether you have children or not. (Because I believe the verb of mothering goes far beyond whether you bore a child or not). Hope you realize and feel just how important you are.
P.S. Thanks a million for your votes this weekend over at Project Run and Play! I made it into the finals and am sewing like a mad woman to get ready for it! Thank you for being so supportive..you really are the best!