3 things about motherhood

Mothers Day has come and gone. But a mother is a mother every day, so this is still something I'm thinking about.

1. Mothering is nothing like you think it will be. Few opportunities will make you happier and make you crazier than being a mother. Children are unpredictable trainers of their mothers. We acquire skills at a pace and breadth demanded nowhere else! Then, just when we think things are under control, we experience kid behaviors, character traits, and creativity that blow our minds and imaginations ... and drive us to our knees for insight and wisdom.

It looks so easy in photographs!

2. You can't know what kind of a mother you'll be ... until you are one. No one can tell you how tired you'll get, not sleeping through the night for months on end. No class can prepare you for the sheer scope of demands issued by an innocent-looking infant. No other experiences develop the same levels of patience, persistence, and grace that routines with children drive into us. And no amount of reassurance can ward off our hurt at being rejected by rebellious teenagers. (After all, weren't we considered fairly nice and smart person until they informed us how behind-the-times and clueless we are?) All in all, the experience and our responses are a surprise, one after another.

Pinned here. 

3. Nothing else will tap your strengths and resources like mothering does. Our kids talk about the things we did (besides French and Spanish lessons, visits to the pizza kitchen and fire station, learning to cook, clean, read, and do math). They also talk about weird presumption that didn't match cultural realities. Luckily for our 3rd and 4th children, we were on a steep learning curve. Just a few examples:

• Our daughter wore a 'modest' skirt to gym class in Grade 5 - what was I thinking?
• We let the kids lie around on their beds for homeschool. Seriously, a little more disciplined approach might have helped them laze around less in high school. 
• We were willing to try almost anything once - which led to some interesting experiences. 

Sometimes God's excellent parenting brings me to tears. He gathers his children as a mother gathers her young, tucking us close to his heart. But he disciplines perfectly and does not overlook our flaws. His intentions are always good. The best of mother-moments are modeled after God's attitude toward us, aren't they?

Read more:

*Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power. Psalm 21:13 ESV

*Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts. Ephesians 5:19 ESV

*Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Righteous God, you are the first and the last. May we serve all of your children equally in preparation for the entrance to your kingdom. Amen.