Now I am not a mother, and I do not plan on being a mother anytime soon. However, I am a daughter that has watched my own mother fall and get back up again. I think that there are a few things that I should have told her as I grew up, feelings that I should have done better about expressing. This post will be my attempt to do so.
I am going to be a little bossy so bear with me. First thing is first. Listen to this song and be held.
Okay, now that we have centered down and we are letting the Creator of the Universe hold us, I want you to listen to these truths.
1. You are important.
As your child's parent, you are the most important (or one of the most important) people in that child's life. I have two moms, a step- mom and a biological mom. Both of these women have made crater like impacts on my life. I was raised by my step-mom and I refer to her as my mother, she is one of my best friends and I cherish her so much. She has done so much for me and taught me so much. My biological mom has taught me a lot too. Even though she has played a different role in my life, I have learned things about life by watching her live hers. It doesn't matter if you are a step-mom, a biological mom, an adoptive mom, or even an absent birth mother. You help define who this child will become. No pressure though.
2. You are enough.
You may feel stretched thin. You may question if you are enough for your child. Here is what I know; if you are present in your child's life, if you love them with everything you are, and if you do your best to provide for your child's needs; Then you are enough. God chose YOU, to parent this child..... He knew that YOU would have that special something that this specific child needs. Again, no matter what role that is, YOU ARE ENOUGH!!
3. Your sacrifices are worth it.
We really do appreciate everything you do, even if we don't do a very good job of showing it. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed; maybe at first, but not forever. As an "adult" child, I can look back on my life and recognize all the times that my parents went without to provide for us kids, and I can say that I am beyond grateful. Your sacrifices (mom) have taught me so much about the Lord's love, His unending, sacrificial, noble, generous, selfless, unconditional, absolute, relentless, and unconditional love. I think that God gave us mothers to help us understand His love more fully. I think that good mothers are an embodiment of His love. (and I got blessed with an incredible mother!)
4. Some day your kids are going to thank you.
Thank you mom, for supporting me in everything I did. Thank you for standing out in the cold for hours on end to watch my track meets (which I know were not exciting times for you). Thank you for coming to my choir concerts. Thank you for making me eat right. Thank you for making me do my homework. Thank you for telling me no (even when I fought you on your answer). Thank you for disciplining me. All those things you have done for me, all the things I watched you do when you didn't know I was looking; have made me the person that I am today. You shaped the woman that I have become. And I hope that I make you proud. THANK YOU!
As mothers, you have the hardest jobs out there, but I think they are the most rewarding. They certainly are the most important. So keep your chin up, I would like to think the journey gets easier; however I am not a mother so I do not have experience in that field. I do know that my mother is now my friend and she is the best. I know there were times that she felt worn out and I know there were times that she questioned if she was enough for us; but everyday she got up and did her job, she played the role of mom, and I could not be more grateful.
Here is my final request: please remember these truths on the hard days and the good days. Please take the time to be held. And please hug your child! Mothers and mother figures are certainly a gift from God. I could probably go on and on with things I should have told my mom as I grew up and I know that I could never express with words how much of a difference she has made for me; but I will end it here just by saying this: Thank you, and I love you more than words can express!
