Just/Because

"The Hand that Rocks the Cradle Rules the World."

     Did you ever hear this saying before? I had it on a bumper sticker on the back of an old car many years back when I was "so overwhelmed" with just my first 2 children. It was a gift to myself to remind me every time I loaded and unloaded a toddler,baby or groceries that I wasn't just a mom- I mattered and was somebody.

     Boy I wish I still had that bumper sticker!

     It's amazing how easily loving and encouraging others comes for me, but when it comes to loving and encouraging myself, it seems almost....wrong. At what point did I decide I was no longer worthy??

     Today my 4yr old son was playing this computer game that I'm none too fond of (long story- it's my husband's, suffice it to say) and there are these cartoonish zombies that go across the screen. My 5 year old daughter comes out of her room crying and asks me to get her brother to quit the game because these goofy zombies scare her. I agree and am fully prepared for a typical "NONONONONONOOOOOO!" temper tantrum. Instead he clicks it off immediately, takes her by the face and lovingly says," The zombies scare you? Den I will protect you from dem betuz you are my sister." I nearly fell off my chair and began crying. This is not a usual occurrence in our home- sweetness turns to insanity in 3 seconds flat and everyone is the fairness police. But this little boy's small act of unselfishness and kindness echoed the words of I Corinthians 15:58 like a shout into the Grand Canyon: 

     "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."KJV

     Another translation says:

"With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort." The Message

     It is deceptively easy for us as mothers to see our roles in motherhood as a "JUST"; we are "just" a mom or we are "just" raising a family. But think of it more as a "Because". Who do Oscar winners thank as they accept their little gold men? Who do NFL stars always make sure are taken care of first? Who are the first people blamed when the guy on the shrink's couch begins unraveling his life from memory?

     That's right: Mom. The adults of today are largely successful or unsuccessful, generous or stingy- heck even breathing or not because of one decision or another that their mothers made. Good or bad, we are who we are because of a lesson or 2 our mothers taught us- consciously or unspoken.My son chose to deny himself fun for the greater good of bringing his sister peace. That is a HUGE thing- especially for a 4 year old let alone anyone at any age- to grasp. It's easy to applaud him (which I did) and brag on how wonderful he was (which I did)...yet somehow it still seems almost wrong to take credit for his decision.

     But I will. Because I'm his mother. 

 sn: MY BLESSING TODAY FOR WHICH i AM THANKFUL IS THE QUIET I GET, EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 12MIDNIGHT AND 3AM- USED TO BLOG,PRAY,DO MY DEVOTIONS AND REST IN THE SOLITUDE AND PEACE.