“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
It takes courage to be a mother. As moms we face the fear of making mistakes, not having all the answers or simply not being “good enough”. It takes courage to put another life ahead of yours, giving up your own dreams at times so your child may achieve theirs. It takes courage to love so unabashedly that the mere thought of your child in pain brings you to tears. It is courage, that after the end of a very long day of diapers, crying, meetings, dinner and homework, pushes you to read that bedtime story and kiss those cheeks goodnight. It’s courage that gives the special needs mom the strength and unending patience her job requires. It is sheer courage that stands up to misinformed teachers, caregivers, neighbors and glares at the grocery store. And it is immense courage that gives strength to the mom who watches her child endure chemotherapy and faces unfathomable decisions.
Yes, the job of mothering is not for the faint hearted. It is the most important job on earth.
My mother is one of the most courageous people I know. She had courage when she moved to a foreign country to be a missionary. She had courage when my sister’s birth mom changed her mind about the adoption yet called for a ride home from the hospital. In spite of how painful she knew it would be, Mom cared enough to help this poor girl get home. During that fateful car ride she decided that Mom, was indeed, the mother for her daughter. I wonder what would have happened had she lacked the courage to give that ride? My mother has shown me what true courage is, but never more than this past winter. She faced a life changing health crisis with as much grace and dignity as I have ever seen. She was BRAVE beyond words in the face of an uncertain outcome. Her faith and courage inspire me. She never for one moment doubted God’s love or plan for her. I am so grateful for my mother’s health and courage.
To all you “mother warriors” out there, and you know who you are, know that you matter. You are appreciated and loved and you are COURAGEOUS.
me and mom….