motherhood means dying to self Posted on January 12, 2007January 19, 2017 By pamela I’m often surprised at the events or changes each season brings. Sort of like knowing that snow’s coming but not realizing how cold it will feel or how distracting it will be. Bcz this isn’t the first time or the second or the third… I knew it would be hard to say another goodbye-for-now to Timothy this morning. I knew the children would be sad and we’d all go through the litany of wouldda-shouldda-couldda dones. And, I knew I’d run the gamut of emotions as I helped with last minute stuff and stood on the porch waving i-love-you’s and goodbyes. But I didn’t really know. I didn’t know this part of the road—I didn’t know this part of this season. And I didn’t know how this would ache in a different kind of way than other times… So, more and more I’m seeing that motherhood is a series of goodbyes. And with each goodbye we learn. With each goodbye we learn to make a choice to live a little more or to die a little more. Sort of a prompting to experience more joy and die to self. That dying to self is the hard part sometimes. It’s hard bcz we spend a lot of our early motherhood in the it’s-all-about-me phase. My pregnancy, my birth, my nursing, my schedule, my baby… my next pregnancy, my baby shower, my greatest-child-ever-born, my baby’s first_________, my midwife, my rocking chair, my quiet-time, my baby quilt, my dishes, my appliances, my memories… And then, suddenly it hits: Owow. Wait-a-second… what? It’s not all about me. O, it’s not about me, it’s all about whoever it’s about at the time. And usually when you come to this realization, you discover it’s all about them. Their plans, their schedule, their clothes, their discoveries, their meals, their tickets, their books, their mail, their studies, their calling in life, their stuff, their coming’s and going’s. And it’s all necessary… it’s part of their season. It is all about them. And mother stands on the porch and waves goodbye. And it’s all good. It’s all right. It’s the way it oughtta be. Save Save Save Motherhood Potpourri
mulling over 31 Proverbs Posted on January 24, 2007 I’m taking a break from writing – handwriting, that is – my husband has encouraged us, each one, to write out a copy of the Word—the Bible in our own hand—His Words, our writing. We’ve begun in the New Testament and have set about writing – originally a chapter a… Read More
Mary Thoughts Martha Hands Posted on October 28, 2011 I just came across a little note in my basket… and thought, this is just what I’m needing! The reminder to have a Mary heart and a Martha mind was the gist of the note. I’m personalizing it a bit to be: Mary thoughts and Martha hands. I must be… Read More
Motherhood’s Company Car: it’s a dream car Posted on May 14, 2007 If the apron is the uniform of motherhood, then the van is motherhood’s company car. Now, when a mother first starts out, she has the starter car… it’s the two door model she attempts to “make do” until she has to move up to the dreaded “mini van.” It doesn’t… Read More
it is so good. my eyes welled up with tears this morning as i read your post in the quiet house over breakfast. in just 6 more hours, after church and family dinner, I and his four siblings will also be on the front porch of my home waving goodbye to our young man; sending him back off into the world; away from the haven of safety and security and launched into the arena of manhood.i too have been doing this many times since this is his 4th year with 2 more to go. (He started college in high school)…….and it still isn’t any easier. each year i learn more though, about my self, about him……..but it’s the same……..little boy………thank you for posting your heart.