Mother's Day

"There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!" (Proverbs 31:29, NLT)

For the swollen feet, stretch marks, and other unpleasantries of bearing a human being in the cradle of your your body, for the sweat, pain, and recovery of episiotomies or cesareans while releasing that child from your womb, for the raw nipples, 4 am feedings, slurred lullabies whispered over fuzzy little heads, for remembering to pack diapers, binkies, wipes, burp-cloths, snacks, the pump or bottles, and the tippee cup on every outing, for changing your clothes with grace when stained with spit-up, for all those gag-inducing poopy diapers, or rage-inducing colicky nights, for the tears you wept adjusting, and the tears you wept in unspeakable joy, for the countless boo-boos you swabbed, bandaged and kissed, for repairing that favorite toy, and stealthily tossing the unrepairable ones, for playing the dropsy game ad nauseum, for making peanut butter and jelly or mac and cheese in your sleep, for playing taxi to all the summer camps, softball games, swim lessons, piano recitals, for the beloved heirloom damaged or destroyed, for all the "don't spit in your brother's face!" and "stop pulling your sister's hair!" and "stay in bed!" moments, for installing carseats, loading up strollers, and assembling and dissembling portable cribs in small spaces, for the first steps and first bike ride without your guiding hand, for the sticky stuff on the floors, the stains on the carpet, and smears on the windows, for the Mt Everest piles of laundry, for playing Tea Party or Legos or Uno with a tired smile, for planning birthday parties, sneaking Christmas gifts, and hiding Easter eggs, for all the spaghetti dinner messes, for asking "where are you going?" and "what time will you be home?", for saying "this will hurt me a whole lot more than it will hurt you" and mean it, for the uncomfortable conversations had with teachers or parents involving "really, my child did that?", for brave play dates in the rain, snow, or sweltering sunshine, for all the thankless, unnoticed, glorious, bloody, sweaty, marvelous moments that make you a stronger woman now than you were before you embraced that small body, and clung to it as if a buoy on choppy waters, because in that moment you realized how fragile life is, and that bond is something supernatural, life-sustaining, and galvanizing.  You're a mother.  You're strong, and beautiful, and graceful.  You sacrifice gladly, and pray more than you speak.  You're a warrior and an angel.  You're Mom, Mommy, Mama. 

God bless you, Mom, today and everyday in this, the greatest, most challenging and beloved journey, mothering.