As a mom of four little blessings, I am always in go mode. I don't often have much down time because there's cooking, and cleaning, and washing clothes, and homework, and theater, and baseball, and softball, and hide-n-seek for my keys and glasses because the 3-year-old hasn't started extracurriculars outside of the house.
There's settling arguments, and teaching kindness, and instruction on responding with respectable tones of voice (there's an almost teenager in the house so this one is KEY!).
There's "where's my uniform," "can I take my lunch," "don't forget awards ceremony tomorrow," and "mom, I wet my pants."
There's watching Blaze and the Monster Machines, My Little Pony, the current seasonal sport, and Gilmore Girls.
There's losing my patience, gaining it back, losing it again, and then gaining it back once more.
There's I love you, I love you, I love you, and I love you.
I have been honored to learn about being a mom from two of the most amazing ladies I've ever known. Most people are blessed with one mom, but I have so graciously been given two. From these ladies, I've been taught...
- How to love unconditionally. (I was NOT at my best during my teenage years.)
- What forgiveness is all about. (Who is okay with someone walking away from them just because of selfishness and then graciously accepts that person back with no strings attached?)
- That being a friend is important, but being a mom is more important.
- Working to make a living is what has to be done, but there's always time for family vacations.
- If something is worth doing, it's worth doing right and worth giving it your all.
- That a mother encourages her children to tap into their God-given talents and use these talents for HIS glory.
- Mothers worry...a lot...even when you're 37 years old.
- A mother's heart grows bigger each year because of all the pride she has for her children.
- A child doesn't have to be your own "flesh and blood" for you to love them as your own.
- Moms are great for settling dads down when they often lose their patience.
- Moms are excellent interceders between dad's and daughters who are both EXTREMELY hot-headed.
- Moms are fun to embarrass in public, but their paybacks are often more than you can take.
- If I need someone to bring me back to reality and help me stop wallowing in self-pity, all I have to do is make a phone call.
and finally, and probably the most important thing...
Moms are great at telling you that you look like a hooker if you're wearing something that's not so flattering.
I've learned so much from each of my moms, but the one thing that I know without question is that I am loved to the depths of my soul (and theirs) by each one of these ladies, and for that...I am eternally grateful. No matter how hard I try, and no matter what I do there is no way that I could ever out love either of these precious ladies. But I'll continue to try.
