Motherhood is a story of opposites – of ups and downs, heartache and joy, hurry ups and slow downs as well as many beginnings followed by ends.
Motherhood is a series of snapshots that blur together in fast forward until one day after you’ve blinked you realize your babies are taller than you and all grown up. When early morning wake up calls are followed by an even longer stretch until bedtime – remind yourself of the gift. When the sunrise is your greeting each day after you just said goodnight to the shadows cast by the moon’s light through your bedroom window, remember that every motherhood moment is a gift from God that He blesses us with when He chose us to be a mom.
5:00 AM comes early when you are a mom getting yourself ready for the day hopefully before the baby wakes. You hurriedly get dressed, possibly brush your hair and start rousing the baby to get in one feeding before both of you need to head out the door. You do one thorough check to make sure you remembered both shoes and all parts of your outfit but the day begins with or without every piece of your ensemble. You do this day after day, same routine, same old same old and you wonder if anything ever changes in this journey of motherhood…
My story began almost 28 years ago, when one July about midday, I was blessed with my first son. Life was never the same because one look into his brown eyes taught me that a momma’s love was one of fierce loyalty and a deep passion. Days and nights ran together in a blur of routines with the unexpected thrown in occasionally. I have always been a working mom so routines were needed but not always reliable when you needed them most. Three years later as spring was breaking through, my second son was born just in time for dinner. My second blessing caused my heart to swell even bigger with all the love that a mom feels.
Now as a mom of two grown sons, I am ready to reassure you that the many Groundhog moments of motherhood – the groping through the night and stumbling through your days is worth it. Every minute, every mess, every heartache and all the joy is worth it. The endless routines of laundry, cleaning up from meals, cooking, etc. all come together in one amazing moment graced by two words “thank you”.
My sons had me at thank you!
The first time those two words crossed the lips of my sons I was given the best gift that a parent could ever receive – the gift of love, understanding and acknowledgement that all my hard work has made a difference. The words spoken by my sons were to let me know that being a mom was the greatest gift that I gave them. But the reality is that I am honored to be a mom because God gifted me with two amazing sons who show me that being a mom is worth every tear, every anxious thought and each milestone that is achieved in the lives of my sons.
So moms…
Hold on, the ride is bumpy, the way can be uncertain and full of ordinary but you too will know the worth of this journey when you hear the words “thank you”. The full circle of motherhood is made clear on that day and the blessings far outweigh the heartaches.
Be blessed that the love God gives us is returned in those simple words of “thank you” and God describes love like this…
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.(1 Corinthians 13:4-7 MSG)
God’s love and His gift of motherhood is His thank you. Now it’s your turn to celebrate the ordinary and give your thanks back to God.
~~~~~
Mary Geisen is the momma of two amazing, grown sons, blessed to be a teacher of 3rd graders from August to sometime in June each year and a woman seeking God in the ordinary routines of life. Lover of the beach, coffee and long walks outside are coupled with a love for all children resulting in a momma tiger advocacy. God’s story for her life blossomed into written words that begged to be shared with others. The power of God’s words has inspired her journey of healing and drawing closer to God through the power of grace. You can connect with Mary on her blog, Passage Through Grace or on Twitter and Facebook.
Love this post Mary. As a mom of two grown children and two teens, I love when I hear the words, “thank you”. And now, I get ready in just a few days to welcome my first grand baby. Oh where does the time go?
I know you understand Barbie! There is nothing like those two words “thank you” to cause you to pause and remember that all you do as a mom is worth it.
I cannot wait to see pictures of the grand baby and to hear stories of what is it feels like to be a grandma. Blessed you stopped by!
Oh my! I wonder how you felt Mary. I love this! You are a great mom. I am sure you had lots of tears. I can’t say how overwhelmed with joy I am reading your experience. I hope to get that BIG THANK YOU some day.
Loads of Blessings
I pray for all moms daily because when we are in the middle of endless days of routine it is hard to imagine our days changing for the better. I can encourage all moms that it does get better and when we hear the words “thank you” for the first time we are blessed with the best gift. Thank you for following me here to send me some encouragement. Blessings!
Such a sweet story! Kids are a blessing. In all the chaos they bring there is a gift wrapped up in the most beautiful ribbon of love. My kids can drive me crazy but when I see them expressing their love whether with a thank you, Love you or I’m sorry it melts my heart and reminds me that I didn’t do such a bad job after all and God is GOOD! Thanks for sharing. ♥
God is good and He knows just when to supply those moments of gratitude or apology from our kids. I am so glad you experience those times with your own kids.
Thank you for blessing me by stopping by and affirming me through your own experience of motherhood. Have a blessed week.
How true!– ‘thank yous’ are from our grown children are like sweet nectar! As I traverse the rocky path we’re on with my 17 year old son, once in a while, amidst the angst, frustration, rebellion, individuation, I catch a mumble ‘thanks mom’..and my heart aches with deep love cracking through from the depths of motherhood! Thank you for this post!
My heart is aching with yours and reaching out with an understanding of the challenges that our kids dish us sometimes. Please know I will be praying for you and your son as he learns to find his way through this crazy world of ours.
I am blessed you joined me here today. Thank you for blessing me with your words.
Beautiful post! I am about to become a mother for the first time. (In fact, we are a week overdue . . . ) I feel in love with our little girl already, but I am still a bit nervous. But, I know it will all be worth it. 🙂
First, congratulations as you begin an amazing journey called motherhood. It is a gift that we are blessed with and definitely worth the time, heartache, joy and love. I am so excited for you and will be praying as you meet your daughter for the first time.
Please and Thank you are words children need to learn, but when they are meant from the heart that is most gratifying. God loves to hear us say Thank you as well. Praise during the day as we view his world and appreciate all He has done for us will be welcomed by our Redeemer. Thank you for sharing your lovely story about your precious sons, with us here at Tell me a Story.
I am blessed that God chose me to be a mother and praising Him for this beautiful blessing is a must. Thank you for stopping by and leaving some encouragement. Blessings!
Oh Mary, I just love where you went with this! Motherhood is SO bumpy, but you are so right, my friend. Those magical 2 words are life-affirming and life-changing. It makes me smile inside and out when I hear them from my children. You are an amazing mother and I know you are in for a lifetime of hearing many more thank-yous :).
I am so glad you found me here Candace. I was going to send you the link since we had talked about this post when we were together. You are an amazing mom too and knowing that our kids appreciate us makes the challenges worthwhile. Just think of the foundation that moms and dads provide for their children and how this gift does come back in the form of a “thank you”.
Great encouragement for us moms of little people! Thanks! Visiting from#TellHisStory.
Thank you! Praying for you and all moms that we hold in our hearts our worth and the great gift of motherhood even on the days that we are challenged at every turn. Have a blessed day!
Yes. If we will just hang on, the thank-you’s usually come. 🙂 I have two daughters in their 20s and the rewards have been wonderful. While we don’t parent for those rewards, they are nice gifts to receive.
We don’t parent for those moments but the sweetness of hearing those words is precious. God gives us such a gift when He blesses us with kids and we honor God by working toward being the best parents we can be. I am blessed by your encouragement and affirmation.
“Thank you” is one of the most beautiful phrases in the English language – especially when it comes unprompted! Good post. 🙂
I am so glad you stopped by and agree with you that “thank you” is such a gift when it is given freely. Have a blessed rest of the week.
This is so beautiful and encouraging! What a great way to start my start my day!
So glad you stopped by! I love when God gives us just the words we need to start our day. Thank you also for the follow on Twitter. I love new friends and I appreciate your encouragement here. Have a blessed weekend.
Beautiful! Yes, thank you (and of course, I love you) gets me every time. This motherhood journey is certainly a gift.
Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop).
Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo
Oh the I Iove yous are such a gift also. When our children become old enough to understand the meaning behind the words is when those special words touch us to our very core. Motherhood is a journey and one that is worth every twist and turn that comes our way. Blessings!