Open letter to mothers

Dear Moms,

Well, another Mother's Day has rolled around. A day for cards, flowers, runny eggs and burnt toast in bed, a day where children everywhere outwardly manifest our love and appreciation for you, although we probably should be doing that every day of the year.

I know as you sit in your church services this day and hear others praise the attributes of 'Motherhood', that you'll be sitting on your bench with tears in your eyes.

If you're holding a sweet little newborn in your arms, you'll be thanking the Lord that Motherhood is finally yours to behold. You'll feel a connection with Him that sent you a precious gift, and get a glimpse into the love that He must have for His children, and finally understand what a 'Mothers Love' is all about.

If your struggling to keep your children quiet, threatening a time out in the hallway, or bribing them with cheerios and fruit snacks, your tears may be those of frustration. As you hear the speaker drone on about their patient, loving, teaching, selfless mother, you might feel overwhelmed or saddened by the lack of patience and joy in the journey you see in yourself. You might feel that "enduring to the end" was a phrase coined by a Mom with small ones attached to every limb, trying to get through another Sunday of lost shoes, hair to be combed, faces to be washed, socks to be found, snacks to be packed, church-filled day. And just when you feel like succumbing to the abyss of self-pity and hopelessness, your children come home with cards filled with hand-drawn flowers, hand-prints forever captured, and hearts with simple declarations of love. Your tears soon turn to those of joy and love, and a longing to keep them young and innocent for as long as possible. Knowing that although the days may seem to endlessly drag some days, that one day you'll turn around, and they'll be grown and just a smile attached to a memory of how things used to be.

If your sitting on your pew and the tears freely flow, a kind squeeze of your hand from your husband gently reminds you that you are still a wonderful Mother. Perhaps your children have made choices that break your heart and make you question your ability to be a Mother. The lives they lead make you doubt and second guess your parenting skills, and leave you to wonder "what more could I have done" , this day might be of no joy to you. As you look around and see from your perspective, perfect families where perfect mothers reside, you might feel like you have failed in the highest calling given to you. Remember, that even in the presence of our loving Father and Mother above, that a third of their children rebelled and are lost to them forever. All is not lost for you. Do you take the credit when your children make good choices and feel the need to nominate yourself for Mother of the Year? So don't take upon yourself the blame when they use their agency and make poor choices, in spite of all that you have taught them. As much as we would like to think we have control over everything our children do, we don't, and at times, all we can do is just love them. That's all they really want. Our attention and unconditional love.

Charity Never Faileth. The pure love of Christ is Charity. The pure love of mothers is a Mothers Love, it also never faileth.

Mom's, don't beat yourselves up today as your sitting in church. If your children aren't perfect, if their socks don't match and their shirts aren't ironed...if your little one just informed you they have to give a talk in primary today...and your teenage has a permanent look of boredom on his face...don't give up. This too shall pass. And one day, you'll look back and wish you would have cherished and celebrated the little moments that come along, not just the big milestones.

Everyday with your children is a blessing. Every child is a gift. Every gift should be received with thankfulness of heart, for the One who gives us the gifts knows best what we need to receive.

Happy Mothers Day to all!

Love, Me