Sometimes motherhood is giggles and grins from a freshly bathed infant.
Sometimes it’s quietly soothing a fevered brow in the middle of the night.
Sometimes motherhood is carefully placing bows in a little girl’s hair while she chatters away about her playmates.
Sometimes it’s fishing nylons out of the toilet…along with a watch, a tube of toothpaste, and a Q-tip because the miniature scientist in your midst wondered if they would float.
Sometimes motherhood is teaching wee ones their verses for AWANA or the upcoming Christmas program.
Sometimes it’s cleaning up the box of Crispy Rice the little man discovered in the cupboard, and promptly poured all over the floor so he could eat them more easily.
Sometimes motherhood is having biblically philosophical discussions over what type of music is most God-honoring, and whether or not Christian rap is an oxymoron.
Sometimes it’s proudly standing in the audience as a son marches by during basic training graduation.
Sometimes motherhood is getting a phone call in the middle of the night from a child who has just broken off a relationship with “the love of her life,” and then spending the next three hours comforting her from miles away.
Sometimes it’s preparing favorite meals for a college student who has returned home for spring break.
Sometimes motherhood is giving counsel to newbie parents on what to do for that colicky baby (that dear grandchild) who is apparently getting teeth at five weeks of age.
Sometimes motherhood is weeping before the Lord because a child’s very soul seems to hang in the balance between light and dark, between truth and lies.
But always motherhood is worth every wakeful moment, every unnoticed sacrifice, every single tear, every sleepless night, every ounce of love, and every whispered prayer.
Thank you, mothers, for being a tangible example in every way of God’s love for us.
Happy Mother’s Day, moms!