and how it made me realize the simple things God wants from us
First off I want to make it very clear that I truly loved every precious gift my girls, husband and parents gave me for Mother’s Day this year. My girls made me lots of cards and crafts. Some they did on their own here at home and others they made at school, the baby-sitters and at church. These are always my favorites. They put so much thought and care into making me something special and just from them. I especially love the things that I can save as keepsakes and withhold the the test of time. The hand written thoughts about why they love me or the shape of their little hands in this point of time are worth more than diamonds to me.
This year marked my tenth Mother’s Day as a mom. This holiday means so many different things to so many different women. I also know that as children grow the day changes. I have friends that have lost their mother in recent years and I feel their pain around this time of year. I have friends that have not been able to biologically be called a mom but mother children in many different ways. My first few Mother’s Day I remember feeling like it was a day that I deserved to take a nap and that was all I wanted. I don’t remember if I was ever able to “gift” myself with a nap or if I received it from anyone else even. Mother’s Day is usually a very hectic day for most families if they are fortunate enough to celebrate between church and visiting family members. So I gave up years ago wishing for this “gift” of nap-time. Im ok with this as I have grown to appreciate the day more and realize this is an un-realistic item to request.
As a mom, I feel like the title Mom, Momma, Mommy have started to define me so much that I feel like Mother’s Day has replaced its level of importance in my head more than my own birthday. I know this may seem strange, but stay with me. When I was growing up I would wake up on my birthday and it was an almost magical day. I felt that nothing could go wrong on my birthday; if it did – it would magically correct itself. On my birthday, that was my day! I felt like whatever I wanted to do or whatever happened revolved around me. I felt like people were nicer. I felt like I didn’t get in trouble as much. I felt like everyone knew it was my birthday (even though most people had no clue). Does anyone out there remember this sublime feeling of birthdays in the prime of our youth years? As adulthood kicks in, reality kicks in also. The world around us no longer cares that its our birthday. Work doesn’t care, our adult responsibilities don’t care, sickness doesn’t care, holidays happen, crying babies still cry and the world around us doesn’t care- as much… I know that it was a fantasy in my own head. As the magic was removed from my birthdays I think I transferred some of that magic to Mother’s Day.
As my girls have grown I think I started hoping that I could have one magical day each year on Mother’s Day. I started hoping that my girls would magically behave better, get along better, love me better, treat me better, respect me better and listen to me better. A little while before Mother’s Day this year, like every year, my husband started asking me for gift ideas. This year I came up with a few ideas. Some were way too expensive, but a girl can dream, right? One was something much more do-able. Then a few days before MD my girls started asking me what I wanted. I would tell them I wasn’t sure and then finally I told them what I really wanted. I wanted them to just get along, treat me like you love me and to listen to me for one day.
Do you think that some days this is all God wants from us?
That He wants us to get along?
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 13:34-35 KJV
Treat Him like we love Him?
We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19 KJV
I’m sure you are wondering if I got my MD wish? The answer was a big N-O. I think I had set me expectations so high for this magical day for moms that I thought it would actually work. It was a normal Sunday of motherhood. My kids didn’t listen. My kids argued. My kids- one in particular-got in trouble a lot. At the end of the day I had a great and thankful day. I realized I had wished for something once again that was un-realistic.
What did I get? My most amazing husband did listen to one of my ideas and they all gifted me with a gift-certificate to have pictures made of my girls this summer. I honestly was more happy with this than the expensive in-practical gift I asked for.
I hope that each of you had a magical Mother’s Day in one way or another. Also, remember that your Heavenly Father loves you like you love your own children and like your parents love you. He forgives us and loves us no matter what we have done. Feel free to share your comments below and follow to receive future articles sent to your inbox.
Have a BLESSED Day!
Tiffany Shepherd 