the hand that rocks the cradle

Yesterday when I was checking my kids into the childcare at the Y, a man looked at us and said, "So you had them all two years apart, huh?"

"No, the boys are all a year apart. They were 0, 1, and 2 at one point. But our daughter did come two years after that," I replied.

"People like you should rule the world," he laughed.

Buddy, you have no idea.












Ever since that moment I have been thinking about mothers. I think it is true that the hand that rocks the cradle also rules the world. All the moms I know are forming the future in their wee ones, for better or worse.

We all have different circumstances, work schedules, giftings, and graces. But the mark of a good mom is her passion for raising her children well.

Whether we are home all day or at work part-time, full-time, swing shift, or night shift; we are all full-time moms.

We all have children who need more from us than we are sure we can give.

Mothering has made me grateful many times for the teachings of Jesus about the last being first and the least being the greatest.

Motherhood means getting in line last and lifting these little lives, all weak and needy, above our own and loving others more than ourselves.

It is a painful road, fraught with complicated decisions, difficult struggles, many humbling lessons, and yet it is the most beautiful road I know.

To all the mothers I know out there, well done.

Well done when you cleaned up another mess made by careless hands.

Well done when you skipped your shower to read holy words of scripture between feedings.

Well done when you hugged those babes of yours after daycare and told them how much you missed them today.

Well done when you played UNO and held onto that Draw Four card so your toddler could win.

Well done when you gave that brooding teenager a little space and then cooked her favorite dinner.

Well done, full-time moms everywhere. Our hearts clocked in the moment we saw two pink lines on a pregnancy test, and we have never been quite the same since then.

And the thing about it all is, we wouldn't want to be anything other than what we are: their safe place, the maker of a loving home, their biggest fan.

We may not rule the whole world, but we certainly hold the worlds of our children and family carefully in our hands. That is no easy task.

Well done.