Sunday, May 13, 2012

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope you are each having a beautiful day celebrating with those you love.


My Mother's Day is shaping up to be quite unusual this year.  Normally, I would spend it sitting in church with my husband to my right, my own mother to my left, and my children spread out among us.


But today, my mother is a state away.


Today, I am home with the 3rd child this week to come down with a fever.


And you know what?  I am quite joyful about the whole thing.  There was a time in my life my expectations might have ruined the joy of the day.  I am gradually learning that it isn't about the gifts or the pampering.  Mother's Day is more beautiful when it is seen as a celebration of God's gift of children and the privilege of mothering them.  I read a well-written blog post on the same subject yesterday.  Lydia said it much better than I could!


Don't get me wrong, I love getting gifts.  And even though I haven't always been very good at it, I love to give my mother gifts.  (Even though to this day I still have to remind myself I will never find a gift to wrap that adequately expresses all my love and appreciation for her.)


And, as is often the case, there is more to the story of today.  I am glad Dale is off at church with his Daddy and no sibling distractions.  We are praying often that the day will come soon that he will trust Jesus as his savior.  


I am thankful for the extra time at home this morning to clean my kitchen and fold laundry, even on this Lord's day, the day of rest.


And that whole thing about my mother being a state away?  She's with my sister.  Mothering her, as she is due to become a mother any day.


Maybe even today?  What a celebration of a day for Mothers that would be!