Growing up I knew I had great parents. They’re loving, encouraging, wise, and always there for us. But there were two moments when I realized how truly blessed I am to have my parents.
The first moment was about my dad when I was in high school. I was talking to a friend at school and she was telling me about some stuff going on with her parents. She told me how blessed I was to have the dad I have. She wished she had a dad like my dad. I remember staying quiet for a few reasons: I was startled by her statement, my heart hurt for my friend and her relationship with her dad, and I realized for the first time not everyone has a dad in their life and those that do don’t always have a dad as incredible as mine.
The second moment was about my mom. I had recently graduated from college and was hanging out with a friend. She shared about her relationship with her mom and it wasn’t the closest relationship. Then she talked about how sweet and cute my mom is. She always wanted to give my mom a hug when she saw her but didn’t know if that was weird. I told her my mom loves hugs and would gladly accept. My friend said she longed for a “spiritual mom” (someone who isn’t her biological mom but loves Jesus and is there for her like a mom) because her mom was not a Christian. My heart ached for my friend. I explained my mom would love to be there for her if she wanted. She became excited and said she would love that.
On the drive home I couldn’t stop thinking about our conversation. As a kid, I had plenty of friends who didn’t have a dad in their life or a solid relationship with him, but I had never had a friend who lacked a strong relationship with their mother. Just as it had happened all those years ago with my dad, my eyes were suddenly opened to how insanely blessed I am to have my amazing mom!
When I was growing up my mom was my parent, not my friend (as it should be). But in adulthood, she has become one of my best friends and I am beyond grateful for her. My mom is a woman of God! She is kind, loving, nurturing and encouraging. She is hard working, wise and quick to help whenever anyone needs it. My mom is strong, brave, and takes charge when she needs to. She is a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. She has been an example for me of how to be a godly wife and one day (hopefully) a mother. And on top of all of this, I have seen her be even more remarkable over the past few months.
She has been strong for our family. She’s been patient with my dad during this season full of changes. She is at every doctor appointment he has and advocates for him when needed. She goes to work, runs a house, cooks the meals, runs errands, makes appointments, schedules haircuts, helps my dad, brother or me whenever we need it, and still manages to come over spend time with me.
She’s a warrior. She’s a boss. She’s my mother. She’s my friend. I will never be able to convey how thankful I am to call her mine and I probably don’t tell her often enough, but I hope this post is a start.
“This job [of motherhood] had been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.”
~Elisabeth Elliot
Leave A Reply