With Mother’s Day around the corner I can’t stop thinking about the sacredness of Motherhood. Not only has this been a special time between my mom and I (she was recently diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer…read more about that here), but I also just had my second baby.
Motherhood is an eternal continuum… with past and future significance in everybody’s life.
“Motherhood consists of three principal attributes or qualities: namely (1) the power to bear, (2) the ability to rear, (3) the gift to love.” – David O. McKay
It is that deep, hard to describe love, that has overflown my heart within these last months.
There is this book that I read to my son that talks about the love a mother has for her child. It’s called “Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You.” It’s by Nancy Tillman. It has such a tender message. It starts by reading…
“I wanted you more than you’ll ever know, so I sent love to follow you wherever you go.” It then proceeds to talk about how her love follows her child in any situation (sleep, play, work, etc). At the end it says, “So hold your head high, and don’t be afraid to march to the front of your own parade. If you’re still my small babe or you’re all the way grown, my promise to you is you’re never alone. You are my angel, my darling, my star and my love will find you wherever you are.”
Oh how tender a mother’s love is for her child. Once you become a mother, you comprehend love on a deeper level. A level you didn’t know existed. I believe the word mother is one of those very carefully chosen words, one of those rich words that has multiple meanings, and honestly it means something different to each and every one of us. I believe, it is first and foremost a statement about our divine nature, not a head count of our children.
Some woman give birth and raise children but never ‘mother’ them. Others, ‘mother’ all their lives but have never given birth. Yet we are all connected in some way, because of mothers. We each have been born of a mother, and have the ability to be a mother – literally or figuratively.
There are a TON of great “mother” videos/thoughts out there. But there are two that I seem to really connect with that I want to share with you.
The first, is this video. #ItWasMom As I watch it my heart overflows with tender joy. The whole process of motherhood; pregnancy, birth, even the routine of just everyday bathing your kids, to hugs and loves, worrying for them, praying for them, teaching them about life, about how to be a good person, then they growing up and yet you still are a mom. It makes me visually see the eternal continuum of motherhood – We are effected by mothers in some way or another.
Your mom could be the most involved, overprotective, helicopter parent…. or you could have never met her. Yet, we were all brought here by God’s mercy and by a mother. To continue the circle, whether male or female, we all have the ability to rear children, to influence them in some way.
The tenderness of that thought is so touching to me.
Now, for those of you who do have a close connection to your mom, or to your kids… this video will really touch your heart. I’m truly not sure what words I could use to describe the emotions I feel when I watch it. If you haven’t seen it, there are 6 or so mothers who stand in a line in front of a blind folded child. The child approaches the mothers and has to identify which mom is his/hers.
I feel emotions of excitement and giddiness as I see the mother and child unite – I have such an incredible bond with my mother that I am certain I would be able to identify her somehow. But I wonder, could my children find me? The mothers watch with protection, love, and worry in their eyes. Do they have that connection? Will their child be able to find them?
Motherhood is absolutely amazing. I can’t tell you how many diapers I’ve changed, how many nights have been interrupted by crying or a “mom, hold you, hold you!” I have calmed many explainable crying sessions by bouncing, rocking, swaying, singing, etc. I love that my alarm clock is my children, I wake up to them. I love that I get to be the one to teach my children right from wrong. To see your child repeat something that you have endlessly tried to teach him {like saying please and thank you!} is such a fulfilling feeling! These children are my every day, in my every prayer, and they are the reason I have found so much joy in life (only second to my dear husband).
To my own mother, I wish to say, I love you. With the utmost respect. You have been the only person in my entire life who has been there for me, every step of the way. You were a single mother, you somehow had the strength to raise me alone (until you found my amazing dad! <3 you dad). Yet I know you put aside your troubles and held my hand, slept with me when I was scared, and wiped my tears when I was sad. You are my dearest, closest friend. You are my biggest fan, my most trusted confidant. Thank you for all you have been for me, and all you continue to do for me. And even though this cancer was such a surprise, and it has quickly turned our world upside down, I still hold on to our bond. You will forever be my mom, and that means so much to my heart. I am so glad we can be together forever.
And to my own two special ones, oh how I wish I could describe the love I have for you. The amount of protection, worry, awe, and gratitude I feel towards your little selves is incredible. I hold you in my arms and promise you I will always take care of you, I will always protect, love, and nurture you. I will do everything in my power to teach you right from wrong, to teach you that you are a special person, and that you matter.
How deeply grateful I feel towards God that he has blessed me with the most amazing, loving mother. And that He has trusts me enough to bless me with two sweet spirits of my own to love.
