Mama said there'll be days like this, There'll be days like this Mama said

Happy Mother's Day!

Being "Mom" is one of the greatest joys of my life. I love the sound of the giggles, the late night chatter of the girls, the enormous hugs my only boy gives, the sweet little "ma-ma's" that are just starting to come from my baby girl's mouth. There are so many blessings to being a mommy, my heart overflows with the joy of it.

There is also the other side of being a mom. And the "less than perfect mommy moments" as a friend of mine put it. The days when the chaos overwhelms. Sibling wars peak. My housekeeping and laundry folding are way behind. The flower gardens sport more dandelions than flowers that were planted. When dinner is the last thing on my mind and it's already 6:00.

Yes, my mama said there'd be days like this. I've got a wise mama!

As I raise my children there is something that Mom said that sticks with me. "God gives us children to grow us up while we are raising them." I didn't understand her. I had the phone tucked between my ear and my shoulder, my first newborn snuggled in my arms, talking to Mom.  I was ready to be Mom. Ready for the exciting adventures of parenthood. After all, I knew how this was going to go. I had my parenting map laid out and ready.

Fast forward a few years. My second newborn in my arms, standing at the window of our - fairly new to us , in the heart of being remodeled -home, job changes and pay cuts still being adjusted to, phone tucked between my ear and my shoulder, toddler tugging on my legs, crying into the phone, "Mom, how do you do it?"

The lessons I've learned as a mom have come from seeing my character flaws in my children and choosing to make a change in myself. Seeing the joy they gather from the little things and learning again to slow down and watch a earth worm bury itself. Blowing dandelion fluff and not worrying about the million new plants we just released. Rows of beets and lettuce growing crooked and uneven in my garden. Planted by little fingers that were full of joy.

I'm learning so much from my kids. From their joy. From their misbehavior.

It's easy to latch onto their joy. It's so difficult to find the heart of their misbehavior. Oftentimes, as much as I hate to admit it to myself. I need to root out the heart of it in myself. When my kids are angry and quick with their words, I look at the example I have been setting.

When they don't have time for each other, have I made time for them? Do they share freely? Do they seem insecure in their place in our home. So many areas they struggle with, I trace back to myself.

That's not to say that I don't recognize that my children have innate sin in their lives. That is part of my job as mom. Many times their wrong choices are simply that - wrong choices. Choices that need to be disciplined, corrected, changed. Just as their right choices need to be disciplined, applauded, encouraged.

In each of these situations God is growing me as a mom, as a wife, as His child. I'm so thankful for the godly Mom I have who encouraged me to "grow up" with my kids.  As I continue to learn from her, gleaning for the wisdom and discernment she continues to give I want to say a public thank you.

"Her children arise and call her blessed""

I love you, Mom! Happy Mother's Day.