A good friend of mine (I call her Aprah) Heard a woman talk about going through an intense experience that was more than she could handle. She said in those difficult moments she borrowed from her future. She knew she would someday be older and wiser, more capable. She borrowed from that woman she would someday become to get through. You can see the whole message here: http://suaviloquy.blogspot.com/
My friend compared that to Motherhood. Sometimes it is physically difficult. Other times the emotional and spiritual aspects of being a parent is overwhelming. We have this gift that is so enormous that words can't define it. It is one of the hardest things yet is the thing that brings the most joy. I loved the thought to borrow strength from a future self that has more perspective. Say I borrowed from my grandma self, how would I handle having my child break my last pair of sunglasses after already going through 3 pairs in 2 weeks. Would I get mad or would I squeeze the offender tight to my chest and tell him that sunglasses come and go but little boys are forever? What if I was a very wise 40 year old (please say it will be so!) and I watch my children wrestling on the ground instead of doing jobs. Would I tell them to stop or lie next to them and figure out what they were giggling about. What if it were 5 weeks from now with a healthy new baby born that is healthy simply because I did what I was supposed to do and sat down for bed rest. Would I regret the time spend on my derriere? Or would I be glad I made the most of it by reading stories, giggling with my 2 year old, doing my 6 year old's nails and having heart to hearts with my 11 year old? Would I be a better Mother if I peeked into the future to gain the perspective I need to realize how precious the present is? All I can say is that I am going to try it. As a Mom I will do anything I can to be better for my children. After all their gift to me of the stewardship of their remarkable spirits deserves no less than my best. After thinking all of this through Travis sent me the newest Mormon Message and it summed it all up for me. Parenthood is a gift - one that needs cultivation and nurturing to make the most of it and one that blesses us from the moment it begins into eternity.
My friend compared that to Motherhood. Sometimes it is physically difficult. Other times the emotional and spiritual aspects of being a parent is overwhelming. We have this gift that is so enormous that words can't define it. It is one of the hardest things yet is the thing that brings the most joy. I loved the thought to borrow strength from a future self that has more perspective. Say I borrowed from my grandma self, how would I handle having my child break my last pair of sunglasses after already going through 3 pairs in 2 weeks. Would I get mad or would I squeeze the offender tight to my chest and tell him that sunglasses come and go but little boys are forever? What if I was a very wise 40 year old (please say it will be so!) and I watch my children wrestling on the ground instead of doing jobs. Would I tell them to stop or lie next to them and figure out what they were giggling about. What if it were 5 weeks from now with a healthy new baby born that is healthy simply because I did what I was supposed to do and sat down for bed rest. Would I regret the time spend on my derriere? Or would I be glad I made the most of it by reading stories, giggling with my 2 year old, doing my 6 year old's nails and having heart to hearts with my 11 year old? Would I be a better Mother if I peeked into the future to gain the perspective I need to realize how precious the present is? All I can say is that I am going to try it. As a Mom I will do anything I can to be better for my children. After all their gift to me of the stewardship of their remarkable spirits deserves no less than my best. After thinking all of this through Travis sent me the newest Mormon Message and it summed it all up for me. Parenthood is a gift - one that needs cultivation and nurturing to make the most of it and one that blesses us from the moment it begins into eternity.
8 comments:
What a great thought Rachel! Thanks for sharing it with us. Hang in there with that sweet baby! I hope all of us are getting a little bit wiser and stronger as we grow older.
great post. thanks Rachel!
Great post. That made me just that much more excited to be a mom :)
Thank you so much for sharing that beautiful message with a soon-to-be first time mom. I hope you can keep your little one in there as long as needed!
Oh I do love ya Rach!
I love this! Thanks so much for the encouragement to remember the big picture and I really love the thought of borrowing from the future me. Great post!
Rach...you are a great writer! I needed this post today. Hank brought home a puppy last night as a "surprise" for our family...my kids were ecstatic to say the least and the look on Hank's face was priceless as he watched how excited the boys and Kate were...I however, was in a much different place and should have been enjoying the moment! Miss you!
Beautiful and so, so true. You are a wise woman.
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