"What do you want to be when you grow up?" Do you remember your answer to this question when you were a child? Maybe an astronaut? A doctor or nurse? A fireman? Or perhaps a teacher or a rock star or a super hero? Some children have a different answer every week. Not me. My only answer was, "I want to be a mommy!"
However, at twenty, I woke up from a laparoscopy (an exploratory surgery), devastated to learn that I might not be able to have children. During my follow-up appointment the doctor told me, "if you are able to have children, have them soon and have them close together." I was a new Christian and single with no prospects in sight. It was not until four years later, after another surgery and several drug therapies, that I met and married my prince charming. We took the doctors advice. And, six months later, we celebrated the news that we were expecting a baby.
Even during the painful years of wondering, will I ever be a mommy, I got ready. I was going to be the perfect parent. I cared for other people's children. I attended child development classes. And, my husband tells me, I read every book on parenting. Yet, nothing---no class, no book, no babysitting---prepared me for the reality of being a mom! And within days, if not hours, after my child was born all of my dreams, plans and preparation to be the perfect mommy quickly vanished in the light of reality.
I quickly learned that no class can address all the dynamics and different scenarios that factor into the equation of adding a new member to your family. No book can adequately describe a child's rhythm, their quirks or the way they will interact with you and you with them. No love or care for another person's child can compare with the love and responsibility you feel for the life of your own child. And, no amount of preparation can make you a perfect parent. There is NO SUCH THING!
The good news is we can be great parents! Because, the best news of all is that we are not alone. God created you, me and each one of our children. He knows all of us inside and out. He loves each one of us lavishly. And He is available and on call twenty-four hours a day / seven days a week. He is the perfect Father! And we have His words in the Bible to lead, guide and instruct us on our parenting journey.
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" I wanted to be a mommy. God was gracious! He blessed us with four children, in five and a half years. We took the doctors advice.We had them soon and close together. Today, they are all grown up. They are beginning their own lives and starting their own families. In spite of all my preparation, I was not a perfect mom. But, God taught me many wonderful and valuable lessons along the path of parenthood. Lessons I now enjoy passing on to and sharing with other moms. Lessons and stories that I hope will encourage you too as you travel the path of parenting.
I quickly learned that no class can address all the dynamics and different scenarios that factor into the equation of adding a new member to your family. No book can adequately describe a child's rhythm, their quirks or the way they will interact with you and you with them. No love or care for another person's child can compare with the love and responsibility you feel for the life of your own child. And, no amount of preparation can make you a perfect parent. There is NO SUCH THING!
The good news is we can be great parents! Because, the best news of all is that we are not alone. God created you, me and each one of our children. He knows all of us inside and out. He loves each one of us lavishly. And He is available and on call twenty-four hours a day / seven days a week. He is the perfect Father! And we have His words in the Bible to lead, guide and instruct us on our parenting journey.
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" I wanted to be a mommy. God was gracious! He blessed us with four children, in five and a half years. We took the doctors advice.We had them soon and close together. Today, they are all grown up. They are beginning their own lives and starting their own families. In spite of all my preparation, I was not a perfect mom. But, God taught me many wonderful and valuable lessons along the path of parenthood. Lessons I now enjoy passing on to and sharing with other moms. Lessons and stories that I hope will encourage you too as you travel the path of parenting.
0 comments:
Post a Comment