And yesterday . . . it was Hannah Kate's dance recital. Her ballet dance was in the first act and then we had a long time to wait until her tap dance in the second act. When I got her dressed for tap, I totally forgot to put her hair piece in. And I didn't realize it until AFTER they were on the stage dancing. Nice.
And Thursday . . . I was supposed to send $3 to school with Mason for a concert. After I got them off to school, I saw the $3 sitting on my kitchen counter. I'd forgotten to put it in his backpack.
When I became a mother nearly nine years ago, I read all of the parenting and discipline books I could get my hands on. I was determined to be the "perfect" mother and have the "perfect" child, but I didn't know how in the world to do that. And then I tried to implement what the books said to do. But it never seemed to work. None of it. I definitely wasn't the perfect mom. I finally realized one day (because it takes me awhile sometimes) that I didn't need all of those "self help" parenting books (they were even Christian parenting books). I just needed the Bible. Because it's all there! Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong or bad about those books. I still have most of them and even recommend them from time to time. But everything I need to know about parenting and being a Godly mom (because there's just no such thing as the perfect mom so the best thing I can do is try to be a Godly mom) is in God's Word!
Most days I feel so inadequate for the hard work of mothering, especially on the days when there's nail polish spilled on smocked bubbles, missing hair pieces at the dance recital and money that was left behind on the counter. One of my most favorite verses for these times, these every days of parenting is 2 Corinthians 12:9 . . .
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
It's enough. God's grace is enough, is all I need. It's enough for spilled nail polish and missing hair pieces and things left behind. It's enough for piles of laundry and dirty dishes in the sink. It's enough for floors that need to be swept and toilets that need to be cleaned. It's enough during the moments I lose my patience and respond to my children in ways I shouldn't. It's enough for all those times when I just feel so inadequate, so "not enough."
And here's what happens when you try to get a Mother's Day picture with three children, one of whom doesn't want to look at the camera.
I have so many sweet memories of my childhood and my own mother. But you know what I don't remember? My mother NEVER complained. Never. Because, let me tell you, there are many days that I want to complain and might even do! She worked a full time job, and she came home everyday and had a home cooked supper on the table for us. She took me to all of those piano lessons for ten long years. She washed our clothes (and even ironed them before she hung them up in the closet!) and kept our floors swept. She helped us with our homework. She did all those things that mothers do, and she did it well! She did it with grace. She did it day in and day out. I really wasn't very grateful back then because I just didn't get it. But, boy, do I get it now! I'm just so thankful and so blessed for her example to me of selfless mothering.
I don't get to see her a whole lot so this picture is almost 14 years old. But she hasn't changed one bit!
Love you, Mama!
