You Are a Mom

As I was hurrying to clean my house before a foster home licensing worker visit, I was thinking about how dirty my house was.  In fact, I was overwhelmed with trying to get it all “perfect” for the visit.  I was worried what she would think when she came into my home.  Then I stopped and just had to laugh at myself.  Yes, I had toys out.  Yes, there was spilled Sprite in several places (and who knows what else) in the kitchen from earlier in the week or was that last week’s dinner.  Yes, I don’t have any idea the last time I vacuumed my house.  Yes, there were several pairs of shoes at each door.  It wasn’t a show house, but it wasn’t filthy, either.  It was just lived in.  Sometimes (ok many times) we can be our own worst critic.

Later as I was driving around running errands, I got thinking about visits I have done for my church responsibilities, as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, and as a friend.  I know several of the moms thought some of the same things I did today.  But I never saw that when I was there.  I only saw a home that was lived in.  I started composing this in my head.  How might we see the things closest to us?  The “You” could be the thoughts of each one of us at some point in our lives when we have someone stop by our house.  The “ME” is how it can be seen through Heaven’s Eyes - a good friend, someone who truly understands, or even our Father in Heaven.

You: “Are they here already?  But there are still Cheerios all over the floor”

ME: “You have children in the home learning to use their little small fingers to pick things up.  They love to make that fact known.  You are a MOM”

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You: “Who could be coming over right now?  There are piles of laundry all over.”

ME: “You have enough clothing for you and your kids.  You are taking care of them.  Enjoy this time. You are a MOM.”

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You: “There are shoes all over in front of the door. No one can even walk inside my house and I have to get to the door to be able to answer it?!?!”

ME: “You have little feet who like to be free from shoes.  They announce their presence as soon as they arrive home.  You are a MOM.”

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You: “I can NOT believe she chose today to just stop by.  The kitchen is all torn apart because I was in the middle of mopping when I had to pick up kids from school.  There hasn’t been time with them home and all the after school activities to finish it yet.”

ME: “Life is a process.  You have children who know they are loved.  You will get to things when you can.  You are a MOM.”

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You: “There are papers everywhere.  The kids just dump them out of their backpacks when they get home.  Why can’t they just put them away?”

ME: “Your kids are in school.  They are learning some amazing things.  Sometimes they need that gentle reminder.  You are a MOM.”

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You: “There are kid’s projects taking over the table, the floor, the couch, the stairs, or where ever they can work on something.  How can we even get to the table to eat?”

ME: “Your kids are creative.  They are in the middle of something amazing.  You are a MOM.”  

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You: “I am still in my pajamas and it is almost lunch time.  The kids are still it their pajamas.  Did someone really just knock on the door?”

ME: “You had the privilege of having a morning at home.  Your kids didn’t have to rush to do anything or get anywhere.  You are able to go at their pace this morning.  You are a MOM.”

 

I was able to spend the rest of the day looking for the potential I see in being a Mom and those tender moments that are going to be gone before I know it.  Life is a learning process and sometimes we just have to take it in stride.