Love Like a Mother

 “It’s not easy being a mother. If it were easy fathers would do it.” ~ Dorothy from the Golden GirlsThis video sums it up perfectly (it's in English with Portuguese subtitles):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94MdwCuiLA0&feature=youtu.be From getting up in the middle of the night to warm a bottle to waiting up past the curfew hour listening for a car to pull in the driveway. Moms sacrifice for their children. I had no idea about all the sacrifices my mother made for me until I became a mom. Now, I thank God for her every time I . . .

• Pack lunches
• Get up in the middle of the night with a sick child
• Find a way to make leftovers into a whole new meal
• Scramble at the last minute to help make a school project the kids forgot to mention
• Drive a figure eight pattern around town dropping off and picking up
• Put in another endless load of laundry
• Quiz my kids for the umpteenth time on multiplication tables, state capitals, you name it.

This list is customized more to the phase of life I’m in now, but it has varied in content depending on the age of my children. Which only goes to show how expansive a mother’s role can be. They may not be earth-shaking items. No one gets a trophy or gold medal for packing lunches or doing laundry, but it’s the consistent, everyday tokens of her love that solidify a child’s world and gives him or her the confidence to reach his or her potential. It’s this humble love that I strive to emulate for my kids.My mother is barely five foot one, but she has the heart of someone seven feet tall. Here are some of the life lessons I have gleaned from her daily sacrifices.

• Love first and foremost.
• Laugh at yourself.
• Always be kind.
• If someone puts you down, it’s because they are hurting inside.
• Be creative.
• Don’t be afraid to try something.
• Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak it’s just more efficient.
• You can be frugal with money, but not with your love.

My mother was always there for me. No matter what happened whether it was good or bad, it was always my mom to whom I turned to for praise or to ease the pain. She has always been my biggest cheerleader and the one who dried my tears.It is because of her humility, forgiveness and sacrificial love that I can pray, “More of you Lord and less of me.” And by now being a mother, I’m better able to understand on a deeper level the extent of God’s grace and love.“As a mother comforts her child,so will I comfort you;and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”Isaiah 66:13Thank you, Mom!And Happy Mother’s Day to all the operations managers – boo-boo fixers - personal shoppers – chefs - taxi drivers - potty trainers – housekeepers - toy repair experts – playdate coordinators- kiss and hug experts – or otherwise known as moms!If you'd like to receive more posts like this, sign up for my newsletter here: Lorri's e-newsletter