Motherhood...

Is there anything more wonderful than the gift of motherhood?

My entire life, all I ever wanted to be was...

A Mother.

I wanted to be JUST like my mom and I wanted her job, that's for sure.

She was and still is a wonderful mother.

Some of my fondest memories of my mom from when I was a child...

Her great cooking, the way she always made my friends feel welcome, her understanding, her friendship, her "coolness", her sacrifice, her devotion, and last but certainly not least, her ability to have the entire house cleaned up and smelling amazing when I got off the bus in the afternoon.

My mom raised 3 children, had a traveling husband, taught piano from our home several afternoons a week, and ran a decent-sized cake-baking & catering business from our home... ALL ON HER OWN.

Really, as I reflect back on my life, she was kind of a superhero.

She taught me everything I know about motherhood. I know for a fact that my confidence in motherhood comes from the Lord, yes, but also largely from the influence of a serving mother.

She served her family well.

And I can only hope and pray that my children will be able to say the same about me.

A servants heart...

This is what motherhood is all about, isn't it?

While we fold the laundry, do the dishes, cook the meals, clean the kitchen, make the beds, wipe up spills, tidy up messes, break up disputes, drive the carpool, read them books, push them on the swings, take them for walks, play outside, play inside, watch their favorite TV shows over and over again, put band-aids and kisses on boo-boos, and yes... wipe their little bottoms...

...We can say a prayer of thanksgiving.

Because somewhere tonight there's a mom with a broken heart. She has had to say goodbye too soon. Maybe her child has passed away or maybe she had to give them up for adoption... Or maybe there is painful brokenness in need of restoration.

I grieve with a mom tonight that I've never known. Her name is Amy Grote. Her precious, adorable, little 3-year-old baby girl (Ann Reese) passed away on December 24th in a freak accident at her parents home. I have followed this story ever since on Facebook and almost every day she posts an update. Her heart is broken and she is exhausted from the grief, but God is good, and He has been her strength in the midst of this storm.

Will you please take a moment right now to stop and pray for Amy & Davey Grote?

You can find them on FB at "Remembering Ann Reese".

She reads the comments that people leave and has mentioned how much they have been an encouragement to their family.

She will need our prayers tomorrow as she wakes up again to the reminder that her sweet, precious girl will not be there to shower her with Mother's Day kisses, and hugs, and flowers, and breakfast in bed, and cute little hand-print paintings from Sunday School...

How my heart just breaks for her. I have never in my life cried so many tears for another person as I have for Amy Grote. I just can not fathom my life without Averleigh (3), or any of my kids for that matter.

So as you go about the mundane on Monday, remember to serve your family with thanksgiving.

There is no greater joy...

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

I Love you!!!

Blessings,
Rebecca