Saturday, May 12, 2012

Let's Celebrate!

Perspective is such an amazing thing. You and I could both look at the same house and give a completely different description of it. How? One standing in the front, the other in the back. Same house. Different views.

And the thing is, we'd both be right.

Perspectives on life come from our experiences. These 'facts' we've come to know within ourselves. They shape our view of what's without.

Trying to explain to your kids why doing such-and-such is not good for them, why A, B and C will be the result if they continue on a certain path is often lost on these young(er) souls.

Why did God give us, the parents, the wisdom of experience, but pair us with children who don't have the slightest interest in taking advantage of it???   Exasperation!

Now my oldest children are marking their journey through the teen years (side-note: whoever coined the term 'terrible twos' must not have hit the 'terrible teens' yet, just sayin').   And the wonder and admiration I feel for my own mother grows with
                                        each
                                               passing
                                                           day.



Now I know...
      that even though she seemed 'so old' (right?) she was really just a young woman trying to figure it out.

 Like me. With each new decade of my life it's like I turn a new corner and a whole different view opens up. The things that really are absolutes solidify with each passing year.  And the things that I just thought were important are minimized, eventually fading into a faint memory of who I was.

I know now that my mama did the best she could with what she knew then.   And you know what?

 It was enough. Grace filled in the gaps.

Now I know...
      that nothing makes you ache like the pain of watching your children hurt. I'm sad for all the anguish I put her through. The sleepless nights filled with worry. Though I didn't believe it then, I know now her love ran true.

 I can see now that though I was unaware, her love was my anchor during my own turbulent 'terrible teens'.

Still her love leads on.

A lighthouse in the dark times.

A touchstone that keeps me grounded.

Now I know...
    the power of  the prayers of a faithful mother. How in her weakness she drew down strength from a heavenly source. For herself. For me. Prayers whispered in the night from my mama heard by the Father.

Who can measure the power of true prayer? Still I reap the far-reaching influence of her prayers. The ones prayed then.  The ones still prayed today.

So grateful am I....Spurred to pour out myself in prayer for my own children. Knowing that as I do

               they are being wrapped

                                        in the supernatural. 


Mother love is supernatural. Full of the self-sacrifice mirrored in the greatest Sacrifice. 


Mothers are lay-down lovers. And is there really any other kind? 


I'm thankful to have one.   Even more thankful to be one. 


Mother's Day is usually billed as a day for others to celebrate us. But really, we are the ones who should be celebrating. We are the ones who have been given the gift.

Because Motherhood is a gift.

Now go celebrate.




Growing Home

A-Wise-Woman-Builds-Her-Home


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6 comments:

  1. Love this post...so real about your own frustrations with raising children..I've been there too. Mine are grown and I've found that even when they are in their 30s you don't stop hurting with/for them in a mother way. And oh, how they can hurt your heart because you love them so! Ahhhhh motherhood.
    And what a great tribute to your own mom too...I love tributes to moms. Thanks so much for linking up at Bible Love Notes. I hope you'll link again this week...I hope to open the hop with my Friday post. I'm praying God will bless you as you write and live for Him. Bless you! Gail

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  2. Thanks Gail! It is a bit of a tribute to my beautiful mom. (I sent it to her via email) Thanks for reading!
    P.S. I'm enjoying getting your blog to my inbox :)

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  3. Thanks for reminding all of us to appreciate what our mom's have done, Angie. And I love your statement, "Grace filled in the gaps." That's so true and I'm so glad He does!

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    1. Thank you, Beth! It's been a great month of reminders about how great our own moms are.

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  4. Thank you so much for this beautiful post! The wisdom here just humbles me. Yes, it is we who have been given the gift. One I am thankful for each day. More and more. I really enjoyed reading this and needed the perspective shift this morning. Thanks for sharing and for linking up with NOBH! Smiles -

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  5. Thank you for this beautiful post. I am little late on reading it :-) as I just found you. Motherhood as children grow up nearing adulthood can be the hardest thing we will ever do. It is such a blessing. Yes, I too appreciate my mother more and more as my children one-by-one reach their adult years. You said that, Mothers are lay-down lovers, and that is so true!! Blessings to you, Angie. Hope to see you around more. Your posts are beautiful!!

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