*** Earlier this week I listened to 2 podcast episodes called “Made for Home” and “The Risky & Free Safe-Place” by Kristen Morris on the “Good Things Run Wild” podcast. I wanted to give her credit because what she shared inspired me to think a lot about what home means to me, especially in light of Mother’s Day… ***
“If I cannot give my children a perfect mother
I can at least give them more of the one they’ve got;
and make that one more loving.
I will be available.
I will take time to listen,
time to play,
time to be home when they arrive from school,
time to counsel & encourage.”
– Ruth Graham
MOM: It’s a title that I didn’t think twice about when I was little… My mom was the person who I knew could always help, always fix, always make my day better, and always make me smile. Seeing through my younger eyes, mom seemed to balance everything perfectly and walk through our days with such grace and ease. But as I’ve grown up and have witnessed all the roles and responsibility that the title “MOM” encompasses I am in awe of all my mom has fought for, forsaken, risked, created, loved, and cared for. I am more aware of hardship, struggle, and heartbreak that comes with motherhood; but I’ve continued to watch her trust the Lord and follow Him. I’ve seen your vulnerability, your transparency, your tears, and your honesty over the unexpected twists and turns in life…
… But it has all caused me to love and admire you more.
In today’s society sometimes home or being a “homemaker” is viewed as safe, cautious, and even unattractive in the eyes of those pouring everything into a career, wealth, recognition, and popularity. In comparison to those things, “home,” homemaking, & motherhood are often viewed as a settling, a compromise, or a lesser calling. But, when I think of HOME, I think of everything that means most to me.
I think of the place where we risk the most and love the most.
The place where you don’t have to be afraid to cry.
The place where you argue but know that you’re safe.
The place where you see each other’s shortcomings.
Home is a sort of training ground: a place to make mistakes, to fall and get back up.
A place of “I’m sorry,” “please forgive me,” and “Can we try again?”
A place to extend the most grace and practice the most patience.
Home is not perfect.
Home is hard & messy.
But it is also a worthy fight.
A place where struggle and redemption can be seen.
More than anything, I think motherhood speaks of:
faithfulness,
consistency,
selflessness
diligence,
&
steadfastness.
I always knew, and still know, that I could always turn to my mom: when I was little I’d call for you to help me find a missing shirt, fix a broken toy, pronounce a word I couldn’t sound-out, or solve a hard math problem…
Now, I turn to you for counsel, prayer, a hug, or encouragement.
Thank you for all you & daddy have poured into creating a home for us: one where we loved, learned, and laughed. When something was hard you & dad always encouraged me to persevere because you knew it would make me stronger in the end. Thank you for all you’ve sacrificed and for all you’ve invested in me.
You always viewed motherhood as a blessing, a privilege, a great gift and a treasure. You saw the opportunity and ability to mold, shape, and direct the lives of your children as the greatest gift and honor.
Because of you I’ve learned that even the most mundane tasks like cleaning, dishes, laundry, cooking, shopping, kissing scraped knees, wiping tears, helping, playing, and teaching can be acts of worship and have the power to change the world. Because:
“WHEN YOU IMPACT ONE PERSON
YOU MAY NOT CHANGE THE WORLD,
BUT YOU CHANGE THEIR WORLD.”
And what is of more worth than impacting a life?
Thank you mom, for all you are.
I love you.
“If our children have the background of a godly, happy home & this unshakable faith that the Bible is indeed the Word of God, they will have a foundation that the forces of hell cannot shake.”
– Ruth Graham
