Motherhood

Being a mother is the toughest job I've ever loved.  It is the greatest calling and challenge of my life.  Holding my child in my arms is something for which I, not so patiently, waited a very long time.  I suppose that's one reason I don't take a single day of being a mother for granted.

Among my family and friends, there are many beautiful, dedicated mothers.  But I never fully understood what motherhood meant until I held Jaxson in my arms and walked side by side with him on his journey of growing up.

Motherhood is a delicate balance of give and take.  You try to cover without smothering.  You attempt to be ever-present without overshadowing. You are equipped with the kind of love that can overcome fear, misunderstanding, and resentment.  And it is unconditional.  When a woman has no voice for herself, you can guarantee it will be heard on behalf of her child.  There is a quiet, gentle strength found in the heart of a mother that could end wars and move mountains.

The desire to become a mother can be for the most selfish of reasons.  Yet when a child comes into your life, your heart is transformed into the most selfless love that exists.  You are given the gift of putting another's wants and needs ahead of your own in a way that doesn't feel like a sacrifice, but gives you an infinite amount of pleasure.

Your greatest hope is not to realize your dreams through your child, but instead to make the world better through future generations.  There is the deepest desire to spare your child any pain or harm, yet the resolve to give them the tools they need to handle any disappointment or challenge.

Becoming a mother is the greatest lesson in learning to let go. From the time each child touches your heart, you are never the same...and you are ultimately better because of the difference they make in your life.  It is an absolute dichotomy of joy and heartbreak.  The ones you love the most are the ones you have to release into the world, hoping each moment and mistake have made them the best possible individual they can be.  

You see, being a mother molds you into a vessel that is constantly breaking.  A crack here.  A ding there.  In spite of trying to remain strong, holding the contents safely; bit by bit, the pieces fall away.  Gradually, tiny rays of light begin to escape through the seams.

The greatest reward of motherhood happens when all the outer pieces of the vessel are shed.  What once were struggling beams of light shining through the cracks, it evolves into a whole source of brilliance that retains the shape of the original vessel.  You pray that during the brief amount of time the good Lord gives you to raise this child, you do your job right and well.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful mothers I call family and friends.  May the warmth and radiance of your children's light shine warmly on your faces today.