motherhood

Twenty-seven years ago my firstborn, my Alberta girl, came into the world kicking and screaming and I was inaugurated into this role called motherhood. Three more and I thought we were a complete family, but of course, God knows best and gave us two more. I could never have fathomed how deep my love could be for the little people God entrusted to me.

I always wanted a large family…a dozen kids, I’d tell you. Then I worked at a daycare…perhaps half a dozen would suffice. Four kids in four years plus two months made our family of six look pretty good. Nine years later, God blessed us with our df girl, then our cl boy. I’m so thankful for these two (not only them–all of them, of course), because as our oldest four have moved on, were it not for these two, I would be a full-fledged empty-nester. I may be a Gramma, but I’m not quite ready for the empty nest stage.

What a treasure we have in our children. I can honestly say that I have loved every stage and every season of watching my children grow into the amazing people they are today. That’s not to say that we have not had our issues. As most families would attest, there are power struggles, quarrels (sometimes outright feuds), growing pains (for kids and parents), sometimes great heartache, and those humbling moments of realizing they are just like you (most often to your chagrin). On the great balance scale of life, these difficult times barely tip the scale on the “what was I thinking when I decided to have children” side. Hands down, the “children are a precious gift” side is always full and overflowing. The Bible says,

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.” ~Psalm 127:3-5

With the advent of parenthood comes tremendous responsibility and, for me at least, feelings of insecurity, of being ill-prepared. I may have had six children, but I have never overcome those feelings. Even as I practically had a “do-over” with our littles, the ‘two stragglers’ as my Love affectionately calls them, I realize I really don’t know much, if anything, about raising kids. This is why it is so important for me to be raising my children on my knees. I read this statement a while back and thought it summed up my thoughts quite concisely. I’m not talking about the need for snuggles. While I can’t get enough of them, I mean I need to be praying for our kids. Always. About everything. For my insecurities and need for wisdom. For their salvation. For protection: physically, spiritually and emotionally. For friends who will point them to Jesus, not draw them away. For their relationships: with God, with us, with others, for future spouses. For hearts that will be yielded to Him. For everything. For the rest of my life. Just because the kids grow up, it doesn’t mean I stop being their mom, and I definitely don’t stop praying. Now that I’m a Gramma, I’ve added grandlittles to my prayer list. Even before they were born, I prayed that their hearts would be prepared to know God and love Him greatly.

Motherhood…It is an awesome privilege for which I am eternally grateful.

“Children’s children are the crown of old men.” [this goes for women, too] ~Proverbs 17:6