Motherhood

The topic today on the Titus 2 Blog Party is motherhood.

I love that topic!!! :)

I've always wanted to be a mom and, growing up, eagerly looked forward to that time. (I see the same in my girls. My 6 year old told me the other day that, while she wants Jesus to return, she really hopes the rapture will happen after she has kids. She then told me that I'm so lucky because, when the rapture happens, I have kids. Even as I told her that I understood how she felt but, since God is so good and perfect, we can completely trust Him to do what's best, I remember feeling the same way when I was young.)

I know without a doubt that this is God's calling for my life. I remember telling my husband a few years ago that, if I could have picked a life for myself, this would be it. I am incredibly blessed. When my oldest girls were young I remember talking to my grandmother expressing to her how wonderful it was to know without a doubt that I was in the center of God's plan for my life. Jesus promised His yoke is easy and His burden is light. When in the center of God's will for us, the yoke is easy and burden light. (Mind you, not perfect but easy and light because He's helping us.)

This does not mean that life is perfect. We have our days that are frustrating. Clutter constanly threatens to overtake our house. (In fact, yesterday my 9 year old pointed out that, though her daddy and I seem to always be cleaning the house, it never gets clean.) :) I get tired and cranky (just ask my kids - or my sweet husband). But, although my flesh definitely shows itself, I know that I am very blessed and am thankful that God has allowed me to be a wife and mother.

One of the neatest things is how God shows me things about Himself through my experiences as a parent. I remember taking my oldest for her first shots in the doctor's office. I stood there waiting for the nurse to come in, looking at my sweet baby and crying. (That's me that was crying, not my baby. She was happily smiling, which made me feel worse.) I remember thinking that I must be the only mom in the world silly enough to stand crying because her baby was about to get shots that would hurt. Then God showed me a glimpse into Himself and His nature. Here I was with my baby whom I loved more than my own life. She had no idea that she was about to get a shot but I knew it was coming. I knew that it was for her own good and would help her in the long run, but that it would hurt for a few minutes right now. It made me so sad to see her go through pain, even though I knew that it would be best for her overall. I realized that God is heartbroken watching us go through pain that we must sometimes experience - even though He can and does work it for our good (if we love and follow Him). Still, what a picture of His Father's heart for us. He is amazing!

Motherhood is an amazing gift and blessing.