Motherhood

I've always loved my Mom.....and I've always known that there wasn't a person on earth who could love me more than she does. But it wasn't until I became a Mother myself that I understood exactly why that was. It's a gospel principle. Charity is developed through unrestrained service, faith, and love. True motherhood is charity.....it involves complete sacrifice and a deep well of faith, trust, and love.

Haylee is sitting next to me now just cooing away. It amazes me that I can look at her and love her. It's the same with my sons. There isn't anything that I wouldn't do for them and some days it seems like there isn't anything that I'm not required to do for them. Some days are easy and some days are hard. Some days feel successful and others, not so much. But at the end of the day, there isn't one, single thing that I wouldn't sacrifice for my children.....except my faith. And it's that faith that makes a Mother's sacrifice holy. With an absence of faith, a Mother's sacrifice is nothing more than just that. Coupled with faith in the Living Christ and faith in a Father in Heaven who has entrusted us with His children, that sacrifice becomes divine.

I'm grateful for a Mother that I would consider to be divine. I'm grateful for a Mother whose faith I have NEVER seen waiver. I'm grateful for a Mother whom I have never heard complain about the sacrifices she made for her children. I'm grateful for a Mother who taught her children what it meant to be holy. I'm grateful for a Mother who is good and kind and loving. I'm grateful for a Mother who has taught me who the Savior is because of the glimpses of Him I see in her. She knows Him, she loves Him, and although she may not be perfect just yet (although I like to think she pretty much is), she has perfectly extended that love to her children.

The world is hurting when it comes to Mothers. Too many are absent from the home.....some by choice, some by no fault of their own. There's an absence of value for Motherhood. Some consider it a sacrifice of the weak. It can be a thankless job and to add to that, Mothers are frequently not given the respect they humbly deserve. So, most of all, I'm grateful for a Mother whose example has taught me how to be a Mother.....and to love it. I hope that one day my children can turn around and say the same things about me that I can honestly say about my own Mom. I hope that I can learn to be as faithful and kindhearted and charitable. I hope that my daughter will glory in Motherhood and realize there's nothing more valuable she could be doing with her time than raising children of faith. I hope my sons will honor their wives and support and respect them as they raise their children.

Mom, I love you! I will be forever grateful that you firmly stood where you continue to stand.....in a holy place as the Mother of eight children.....any one of which would willingly and gladly say exactly what I'm saying now. Thank you for your sacrifice that never seemed like a sacrifice and for your love. I hope I can follow in your footsteps. Happy Mother's Day!

And for my children (not that they can read), it's an honor to be your Mother. I love my job.....and I love all of you, more than words can express.