I learned something I already knew last Monday! (And you already know it too, but it bears repeating so I'm gonna remind you anyway *bwah ha ha!* *winks*)
My parents had been out a lot that day—spending time with
each other and running errands—so Joseph and I were “in charge” while they were
gone. I had a very busy day--a day leaving me with very little “me time”. My goals
for that day? Well, they didn’t get done… exactly…
After dragging myself out of bed and eating breakfast, I helped Nathan with his History
homework. Then, before I’d finished my coffee, Nathan eagerly whisked me off to
the living room to play Lego’s (so the coffee came with me *winks *). We played
for a while, I made lunch, we played some more, mom and dad came home. I was
then able to work out, eat lunch, and shower. Mom then gave me the run down of
whose schoolwork needed to be checked and who still owed her what, before she
and dad headed off again :D I wanted to go shut myself in my room, mess around
on the computer, and get the grading/checking done, but Bethie so badly wanted
to play Nancy Drew (PC games) with me, (and I had this blogpost poking around at my conscience *winks *) so I agreed to play with her. As she started to play, everyone decided they were hungry for dinner! :D So I finished
potatoes (mamma started them!), heated up corn, and ‘sliced’ (read ripped) the meat off a
rotisserie chicken mom and dad had brought home for us earlier. Bethie brought
the computer up to the kitchen table where we continued our together time, as I
went back and forth between watching her play, eating my dinner,
supervising, and doing bits and pieces of kitchen cleaning in between. The
winter Olympics came on, and as we watched them Hannah ironed clothes and I
folded and delivered them, and Heidi did dishes during
commercial breaks. Hannah made Puppy Chow and a (HUGE—I mean, seriously! She
made them in cupcake tins!) Homemade Reese’s for me with my natural
peanut butter for filling *smiles dreamily *. Nathan and Joseph played some
battle game and watched the Olympics back and forth. It was fun. Not perfect—there
were the sarcastic comments and sibling squabbles here and there—but overall it
was a fun evening! When mom and dad came home, I settled down with those answer
keys and homework notebooks and checked and corrected the kids’ work… … and then
I was finished.
*Phew! *
A full, busy, productive, even fun day!
But I felt a tad bit weary!
I realized I hadn't really done much of what I had personally
(selfishly?) hoped to accomplish today, (But, with such a good
workout and long, hot shower, I really could not complain!:D)
but it had still
been a great, fulfilling day.
I also realized something about MOTHERHOOD. I had a head
knowledge of it for some time, but today, I had a better heart
knowledge of this fact:
Mamma’s GIVE
They give A LOT
A lot of themselves,
A lot of their time,
A lot of their energy
Their focus
Every day
All. Day. Long.
And they don’t just
GIVE.
They GIVE UP.
Not “give up” as in
“wimping out” –huh uh!!
(they can't do that, although surely there are moments when they want to LOL!)
No! They give up
their goals, their to-do lists, their time, their lives
To invest love,
learning, and life into their families!
It’s fulfilling and
wonderful <3
But at the end of the
day it leaves a woman weary!!!
So for all you young ladies reading this right now, I encourage you to take a minute, go
find your mom, and give her a hug. Thank her for all she gives every day in a million
tiny ways (and moms are so good at giving of themselves to make the
lives of their husbands and children better, that often, we don’t even
notice all the work she really does, because she does such a flawless job!)
And if your mom’s not around to hug and thank right now, purpose to do so
later!!!!!
And, sweet sister, if your desire is to be a mother some day
should the Lord will it, it would be an awesome idea to begin preparing for
this constant giving of oneself by “practicing” a little! See if there is
anything you could do daily or even just weekly around the house to lighten your mom’s
load or to lift up your brothers and sisters! It would be a blessing to all
those involved! :D
And while most mothers are great examples of “constant
giving”, and while it is great to follow their examples and even prepare to set
our own—bear in mind our greatest Example of living a Life of constant
giving! :D
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Look not every man
on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."
~~Philippians 2:3-4~~ (verses 5 through 7 could also be
applied!)
