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10 Minutes Peace
by Susan McGrath
I am a mother. (Period.) No justification. No add-ons so I don't seem to be an uninteresting underachiever. No excuses for why I have a family and want to take care of them. Just "I am a mother."
I have participated in God's miracle of birth. I have been given the honor of acting as caregiver and protector of a helpless, innocent child.
I have been kissed by long lashes and sticky lips. I have played hide and seek, Hi-ho Cherry-O and Candyland more times than I can count. Uno has now been added to the list.
I have watched Barney videos until I sing the songs in my sleep. I have eaten at McDonald's an average of once a week.
I have had my toes trampled by little feet and my heart trampled by little words.
I have prayed over each child as they lay sleeping. I have dreamed of what they will turn out to be.
I have sung lullabys and patted backs, bandaged scraped parts and taken others to the emergency room to be "glued".
I have fixed three different menus for the same meal. And I have said, "You can eat what I fixed or find your own supper."
I have struggled through homework and delighted in learning to read all over again from a six-year-old's perspective.
I have complained to my family and friends about my children, and I have cried for fear that I am not doing a good job.
I have yelled and then felt bad all day, and I have praised and hoped it meant something to my child.
I have just begun to understand what I put my mother through.
I believe we are sometimes afraid to put motherhood forth as the most important thing we do, even if we believe it is! The most difficult and important job we will ever have is raising children to know the Lord and be an asset to His kingdom.
I have worried over the enormity of this task. I have prayed about it. I have worried some more.
I am a mother.
As we are honored this week, let's strive to be like the mother in Proverbs 31 and Timothy's mother and grandmother, Eunice and Lois (2 Timothy 1:5). Let's give our worry and our children over to the Lord and seek to be the mother's God intended.
Rate it:
a recovering journalist trying to encourage others and glorify God through writing;
living the small-town life with husband Tim and sons Lincoln, 12, and Sawyer, 6;
completing a few put-off writing projects while using chocolate for therapy.
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