Last week Wedenesday Father Jonathan asked if I would share with the Community, my story on Motherhood.
So this what I shared...
Our decision to have children after 3 years of being married was purely based on the cute little bump my friend was sporting; the kid needed a friend to play with!
Once we found out we were expecting Josh, it was real, from students to parents.
It’s different from when you hold a new born to when you hold a two year old and then it feels like forever, till one day he is 5 then almost immediately 7.
And every step of the way has been so challenging, so easy, too crowded and sometimes lonely. One thing has been consistent though, love, a deep love. As a mother I find these words in Vincent van Gogh’s letter to his brother such an inspiration : Love many things, for therin lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much, performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well!
I love Mother’s day!
Not only does it remind me that I’m Yay high and a mother to 2 boys.
It also reminds me of the many mommies I have had over the years, including my own biological mother.
I look at my life and I feel so blessed at the many women God has allowed to gently seep into my heart and soul.
How often people come in and out of our lives;
one plants a thought,
another nurtures an idea and
somebody else comes by and encourages you to act on that reality.
How many of those women continue doing these amazing things and not realise how they have affected our hearts, our being and moulded our us?
Like the lady that taught you how to put on lipstick, because your Mom was good at playing hopscotch and climbing trees with you.
Or your friends Mom who cooked homely dinners for you, because your mom was a single Mom working hard to send you to university.
The teacher at school who helped you pass your english exam, because your mom’s first language was Zulu.
What about the lady who helped you become a better child for your Mom, because your Mom loved you unconditionally and overlooked the disrespect you showed her.
And your older sister, who helped dress you when your mom needed to pack you a lunch.
Those women that surrounded you and became your strength when your Mom passed away.
And ALL those women who have been mothers to us and share a place in our hearts in their own way.
These are the women that we need to celebrate.
These are our Mothers that are clothed in strength and dignity.
These are the women that teach us that being a mother is not just one thing.
Where one of us lacks, there are others that will help carry the weight.
These are the women who speak and act with wisdom.
These are our Mothers.
These are the women WE need to be.
They write the chapters in our life, providing boundaries that become etched in our mind, providing alternatives in situations, imitating Christ's love and Christ's eye to see us all as His children.
It is these women who cause us Daughters to become Mothers in this World.
Being a mother to your own children is a challenge.
When we choose to become Mommies, we choose to wear our hearts on our sleeves.
God chose two little boys for me.
He held me in His palm and He saw my future with Joshua and Elijah.
He probably had a good chuckle and was sometimes disappointed at my parenting.
But He still gave them to me.
Knowing that I would shout.
Knowing that I would spend more time playing with them than teaching them maths.
He knew that I would I talk to them and teach them about life the best way I knew how.
He knew the mistakes, He knew my frustration levels and He knew my sins and my struggles.
But He still blessed me with Boys that are ALWAYS gracious, kind and patient with me.
Each day is a box filled with surprises.
One day a letter of love with misspelled words or a picture of ant sized people in the form of a paper airplane. The next day walks and discussions about how the Grey go Away bird and Loerie are the same birds. Somedays are just bad and never should happen. So we rewind and start again.
But all of our days are filled with Love and Jesus our Christ.
I would like to end with a quote from a book that I am currently reading,
For The Childrens Sake, “Look well at the Child on your knee. In whatever condition you find him, look with reverence. We can only love and serve him and be his friend. We cannot own him. He is not ours.”
