Happy Mother's Day!

Reflections looking back ... 

I became a mom at the age of 20 years old.  It was something that I cherished and looked forward to.  I LOVED being pregnant!!  (that is an understatement...)  And giving birth was so simple in comparison with working out the details of the next 18 years.  Every stage of my children's lives has brought new joys and new challenges.  I have three distinctly different children each with their own personalities, quirks, and challenges along the way.  

In each stage of my kids lives however I have tried to keep them looking to God for their strength and help whenever there is trouble.  The longer I parent the more my kids prove to me I have no clue what I am doing as a mother and they have repeatedly driven me to my knees seeking help from the one who created each one of them.  And just like adult children realizing how little we really did know as teenagers, I myself have realized how little I really knew about the God I serve as I raised my own children.  

Things I have learned include:

• There is no pat answer to raising kids
• Every child is different (what works for one probably won't work for the next)
• What worked yesterday probably won't work today
• Just like God gives us abundant Grace, Mercy, Love and unending Forgiveness I am learning to pass these things on to my kids more and more the older they get.
• There are no such thing as perfect kids or perfect parents
• If you regret the way you did things today.... tomorrow is a new day and you can choose to do it differently
• Parenting is hard work.... but always worth the effort
• Sometimes it is ok to put kids before your spouse.... Sometimes you need to put your spouse before your kids... Pray for wisdom to know which is which.
• Sometimes you need to put the rest of your life on hold because you are the only lifeline your kids have to hold onto even when they don't realize it.
• Every parenting stage comes with new challenges and each new challenge comes with realizing something else that you, yourself need to work on.  Interesting how God parents us through us parenting our children.  This is probably why our grandparents always seemed way cooler than our parents ever did.... God had worked on moulding them into His image much longer :-) 
• It is amazing how early in this parenting journey that I realized that I am not in control.  It is still a process of letting go of the control I never had to begin with in every area of my life... but one finger at a time God is gently prying my fingers off and encouraging me to let go and let Him take care of things.
• I am proud of my kids.  They are created by God, in His image.  They all have so much to give to the world around them.  I see them giving generously each in their own way to the world around them.  And just like God doesn't love us based on how we act, think, say or do... I love my kids no matter what... unconditionally!
• My kids have taught me that it is possible to feel extremely opposite emotions at the exact same time towards the exact same person.  And that it is possible to want to squeeze someone close and never let go again  but at the same time want to push them away.  I believe that the reason this happens is that you only feel extremely emotional towards someone(or something) that you care for deeply.  
• I raised my kids to question the "norms" of society.  I hope that they seek God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and become world changers for God each in their own unique ways.  They each have something to give that no one else in this world has.  I hope as they do this they cling to the truth.
• Nicole, Christopher & Jocelyn... I love you all!!  You are the best gifts that God has ever given to me!  You have taught me more than any education could have.  You have enriched my life so much.  Even on the hardest days my heart is filled with love for you deeper than I ever thought possible.   If you ever need me please ask and I will be there the best that I can be.  Just like as you seek God, He will be found by you and come to your rescue quickly.  His love and abundant mercy and blessings will overtake your life... all you have to do is ask :-)  My love for you is nothing in comparison to God's love for each of you!