What Do Moms Want For Mother's Day?
My son, 11, asked me, "Hey Mom, what do you want for Mother's Day?"
"A clean house and a nap," I replied.
"Ugh," the boy snarked and walked off.
I'm betting most moms with kids at home would make the same request! Sleep and organization always seem to be in short supply around here. I dream of a perfectly clean house and a full nights sleep, but they remain elusive.
As the day progressed, a myriad of things went awry. With 6 children, chaos is bound to happen. But what caught me off guard was a certain situation that required my oldest to make a difficult choice. He asked me what he should do. But I told him, as a young man nearing adulthood, this decision was for him to make, not me. After an hour of careful consideration, he determined that he would have other plans on Mother's Day.
Initially, I was disappointed. But then my heart turned around. Because what I want most for Mother's Day is not to have all my children with me, but for all my children to grow in their faith and be passionately devoted to Christ. Ever since they were little, I have prayed that my children would love the Lord their God, with all their heart, and with all their soul, and with all their strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).
I have pleaded with God to get a hold of my children's lives. While in the midst of my impassioned plea, I have promised to do my best not to get in the way of God's work, but instead to lead and teach them in a manner that balances love and law. The moment I had my first baby, I was simultaneously filled with joy and exhaustion (thanks to 36 hours of labor). I distinctly remember the day I brought him home. Before I put him to bed, I spent a long time rocking my new baby and praying. As I talked with God, it occurred to me that my son was not my own. He had only been entrusted to me for a short time. This tiny boy of mine really belonged to God, and He had picked me to be his mom. As his mother, I was to do God's work, but I only had a few intense years available to accomplish all that God had tasked me to do.
That little baby boy is now much bigger than I am. In 16 years time, he has learned a lot. He can cook, clean, care for others, write papers, solve complicated math problems, drive a car, go to work, compete athletically, and submit to authority. He knows the difference between right and wrong, and He knows where and how to find God. While his faith is a work in progress, as it is with nearly every teenager, I see God moving in his life. I see God teaching him the lessons I cannot teach. I see God molding my son into the man He wants him to be, especially this weekend with the decision that was made.
So this Mother's Day, even though my son is not here, I know that God has answered the deepest cry of my heart. Through this decision, God is drawing His child, my child, close to Himself. What more could I want? This is the ultimate Mother's Day gift. It didn't come from my children, but from the Father.
"A clean house and a nap," I replied.
"Ugh," the boy snarked and walked off.
I'm betting most moms with kids at home would make the same request! Sleep and organization always seem to be in short supply around here. I dream of a perfectly clean house and a full nights sleep, but they remain elusive.
Initially, I was disappointed. But then my heart turned around. Because what I want most for Mother's Day is not to have all my children with me, but for all my children to grow in their faith and be passionately devoted to Christ. Ever since they were little, I have prayed that my children would love the Lord their God, with all their heart, and with all their soul, and with all their strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).
I have pleaded with God to get a hold of my children's lives. While in the midst of my impassioned plea, I have promised to do my best not to get in the way of God's work, but instead to lead and teach them in a manner that balances love and law. The moment I had my first baby, I was simultaneously filled with joy and exhaustion (thanks to 36 hours of labor). I distinctly remember the day I brought him home. Before I put him to bed, I spent a long time rocking my new baby and praying. As I talked with God, it occurred to me that my son was not my own. He had only been entrusted to me for a short time. This tiny boy of mine really belonged to God, and He had picked me to be his mom. As his mother, I was to do God's work, but I only had a few intense years available to accomplish all that God had tasked me to do.
That little baby boy is now much bigger than I am. In 16 years time, he has learned a lot. He can cook, clean, care for others, write papers, solve complicated math problems, drive a car, go to work, compete athletically, and submit to authority. He knows the difference between right and wrong, and He knows where and how to find God. While his faith is a work in progress, as it is with nearly every teenager, I see God moving in his life. I see God teaching him the lessons I cannot teach. I see God molding my son into the man He wants him to be, especially this weekend with the decision that was made.
So this Mother's Day, even though my son is not here, I know that God has answered the deepest cry of my heart. Through this decision, God is drawing His child, my child, close to Himself. What more could I want? This is the ultimate Mother's Day gift. It didn't come from my children, but from the Father.
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