Extract · Memoir
Mother’s Day
Yesterday was mother’s day.
First thing in the morning, I had some quiet time with the Lord. As I was leaving my bed, my eyes fell on my beautiful children, who were laying beside me. I had the warm realisation, how blessed I am to be ‘mummy’. My children are 13, 8 and 7 at this present time. For the last week, they have all crept into my bed, to tell stories, read scriptures, talk about our day, have some prayer or just sleep off to soundscapes. Every day I tell them that this arrangement has to stop – so I can enjoy my bed alone once again, but each day they come again and I am enamoured. I take the view – it’s because they love me and one another – they want to come close.
Their dad is away for work and will be home again soon – so the arrangement will have to change – but for now we are straddling the excuse of Mother’s Day.
Recognising the Stress Load
I love everything about being a mom. I love pregnancy (what a miracle), I love the birth, the nursing, the nappy changes, I love the smell of a newborn, I love parenting, I love motherhood. I love it unashamedly, I love it practically, I love it without apology and I won’t change a thing. In fact my dream right now is to have another 1 or 2.
I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea – some even look at me like I am mad when I say it, but I do love it. It’s true and I am not the only one. I have received great encouragement from the scriptures, that God thinks many children are a good idea too. Throughout the scriptures, there are countless verses that imply children are a crucial part of “The Blessing”. Filling the earth and procreation were a mandate, but never a punishment. God knowing our nature, in His plan, still called it good.
I dare you to find a pronouncement of blessing that didn’t include or encompass the notion of many children, in fact a quiver full of them.
Many families are longing for the cry of a first born child and many families are dreading the load of the one or two they already have. For many and most, their reasons fall into or across the strata of emotional, financial, logistical, economical, relational and or disciplinary load. STRESS!
I understand both sides of the story, both leaves of the proverbial spread. The challenge is not who is wrong or right. The challenge is perspective. People are people and we all have a tendency to want to do it our way. There is a famous song by an iconic singer titled “I did it my way” and it buttresses the point that even though we are still learning ourselves and trying to figure things out, we have assumed we have this parenting thing fully figured out.
I have known the need of waiting with expectation and as well as of being buckled down by a load of care. And though I know not everyone shares my faith, as a Christian, it is what I know, what I live by and the source of all the wisdom I will share.
I believe God is the author of life, marriage and children. I believe He holds the blueprint of both and I believe that if we want to enjoy peace, success and prosperity in the area of family life in an exceptionally busy and noisy world, we must seek He who holds the blueprint…