Before I was a mom I made and ate hot meals. I had unstained clothing. I had quiet conversations on the phone. Before I was a Mom I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday. Before I was Mom I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to lullabies. Before I was a Mom I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations. Before I was a Mom I had never been puked on, pooped on, spit on, chewed on, peed on or pinched by tiny fingers. Before I was a Mom I had complete control of my mind, my thoughts, my body, and my mind. I slept all night. Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom. Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a Mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important. Before I was a Mom I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was ok I had never known the warmth the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderfulment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.
"We may not have it all together, but together we have it all."
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So its probably no accident that the gospel accounts of Jesus' life and ministry begin with his mother. It is no coincidence that the gospel accounts of Jesus' life end with Jesus' mother weeping at the foot of the cross.
These are a few things I've noted:
*It seems as though Jesus' mother was never very far away from him.
*It was Mary who taught him obedience.
*Mary's obedience called for a sacrifice.
*Mary demonstrated that it didn't matter what the world thought, obedience to God was the most important aspect of living.
Maybe the greatest blessing in Jesus' life wasn't the fact that Mary was chosen to be his mother. Maybe it was that his mother chose to obey God. Her obedience qualified her to be the mother of Jesus. We mothers today are capable of making the same choices. So in theory, e
ach child born gives a mother a chance to be a Mary in carrying out the great commission...
Mary is a perfect example of what God is willing to do with ordinary women such as ourselves.
A great woman, wife and mother is kind and teaches by modeling compassion.
The love of a mother is never exhausted. It never changes--it never tires--it endures through all; in good, in bad, even in the face of the world's condemnation, a mother's love still lives on. It was a mother's love that guided Mary to be with Jesus all the way to the cross.
There are some rules I ran across for raising children that I think are very simple...
* Teach him to pray as soon as he can speak.
* Give them nothing they cry for and only what is good for them if they ask for it politely.
* To prevent lying, don't punish what is freely confessed, but never allow a sinful act to go unnoticed.
* Commend and reward good behavior.
* Keep all promises you have made to your child.
I think it is too easy to reverse our role as a mother, to read verses and think "housekeeper" rather than "homemaker". A woman is one who makes a house a home through her godly influence.
We should never diminish the roles God has assigned each of us in life. Wives and mothers must understand that we are the most influential people in the entire world. That is the role God has assigned in our lives. It was by a woman that God chose to shape us, give us form and substance and life!
Putting this together makes me look at my own mothering skills. Am I showing my children compassion? A unending love that forgives even before they do wrong? Am I only guiding them when they do wrong, or am I taking the time to praise them when they do right - as large or small as that might be? What am I (doing/not doing) that is preparing my children to be examples of Christ?
May God give me renewed strength anew every morning - and I pray that He does the same for you.
