Grace full mama

I’m a day late writing something for mother’s day! Mostly because I was busy being a mother, and a daughter, and a daughter in law.

My weekend was jam packed. I hauled my 3 month old baby along for 5 hours of dance dress rehearsal Thursday, 6 hours in the throws of the first dance recital, and 10 hours Saturday. Sunday I woke up thinking I had better stay in bed, since my kiddos always try and put together some kind of breakfast in bed. I remember the year it was day old bisquits and a whole bunch of freezies squeezed out into a glass… with 4 straws! Those are precious memories.

And so I waited. But they all slept in! We had a busy day planned around the kids Sunday and at no point did I feel spoiled. My older two forgot all about mother’s day. My wonderful husband is up at our fly in lodge so he wasn’t here to remind them.

To be honest, I felt a little sorry for myself. This was supposed to be my day where I am appreciated for wrapping my whole life around these little people. Right?

Then, I got this text from my mom.

“Happy Mothers Day my dear daughter!! I love you so, so much!! I’m SO thankful that you came into my life 36 years ago and blessed me to become a Mother! And I could not be more blessed by any other daughter! I am incredibly blessed to be your mother and grandmother to your children! I love you!!”

Boom. Wowza. Insert reevaluating my life quote here.

She didn’t say “Hey, it’s mother’s day, celebrate me and make sure you write me the letter you know will mean the world to me.” She celebrated that she IS a mother. She celebrated me. She was utterly selfless. Gosh I want to be her when I grow up. (At 36 I am kind of wondering… When exactly will I be grown up?)

I had been sitting there, feeling sorry for myself, waiting for validation that was just not there. I deserved it, right? 20 solid hours in a sweltering gym with 75 screaming little girls certainly had me feeling like I deserved a metal. But reading my mom’s text gave me pause. She deserved every kind of appreciation. She didn’t stop being there for me every single time I needed it when I turned 18 and her job was done. She has been there for me in every possible way for 36 years. I have taken advantage of her. I have needed her more than I have ever needed anyone. And she didn’t send me a text fishing for accolades. She genuinely saw being there for me for 36 years as a blessing and a privilege.

I am still learning from my mama. Pay close attention, my child, to your father’s wise words and never forget your mother’s instructions. For their insight will bring you success, adorning you with grace filled thoughts and giving you reins to guide your decisions. Proverbs 1:8-9

The mom forum that I am on has a million women belying their mother’s day. It wasn’t special. They didn’t get to sleep in. There was no breakfast in bed. Their husbands didn’t appreciate them. Their kids were still difficult.

I think we all need to take a lesson from my mom. She counts the trials of motherhood as joy. There is no strings attached to her love. It isn’t “I do all of this for you, the least you could do is give me some appreciation!” She just loves and doesn’t wait for it to boomerang back to her. That is real love. The kind of love you send out expecting nothing in return. That is Jesus kind of love. Love with no return address.

I am incredibly privileged to have been loved like that. I am praying to become a lot more like my mom. The world needs more mothers like mine.