A MOTHER'S JOB

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
3 John 1:4

This past week, David and I had the privilege of watching two of our grandchildren for 1 night and 2 days. We loved it, they were precious and we were exhausted by the time their Mom and Dad returned home from their Staff Retreat! To quote my precious Mother-in-law, "God knows what He's doing when He gives children to the young!"

I seems only yesterday David and I were much younger with babies of our own. I remember some long sleepless nights; toys that never stayed in the toy box and unending cries and squabbles. We went to bed each night wondering if we had hugged enough, corrected enough and hoped we had money enough to meet their needs. God always provided what we needed in every season and now they are grown doing just what their parents did almost 30 years ago.

I think a great deal about my "mothering" now that the boys are all grown up. (It's the first opportunity I have had to think.) Reflecting back, here are some things I've learned from being a Mom to Jeremy and Jordan.

1. Pure Love. I'll never get over holding my boys for the first time, fresh from the hand of God. I didn't have to fall in love, I was overtaken and run over by the feelings that overwhelmed me and I've never gotten over it.
2. Pure Joy. I have gotten the biggest kick out of their zest for life. They have made me laugh hysterically, giggle inappropriately and nearly wet my pants at their antics.
3. Pure Grace. I had to learn as I went. They never held it against me that they had to be guinea pigs for an ill-equipped Mom. I check the Best Seller Book List constantly for fear they have written a book that will expose me and my failures.
4. Pure Teaching. God used my boys to teach me so much about my relationship with Him. I would have been much more shallow and self righteous without those much needed lessons.

When I was a very young woman, I though it best that I not have children. There had been enough scars from the dysfunction in my life, that I felt disqualified for the task. I am so grateful God had other plans for me. There are many things I could have lived my life without, but being a Mom to Jeremy and Jordan is not one of them.