I didn’t expect my first Mothers Day to be like this. I fully expected to be married at home holding a little baby, and I figured this would be, you know, several years from now. I wasn’t married. I wasn’t home. But I did hold a little baby…actually sevearl little babies, some larger babies, and played with some toddlers. I may not have birthed any of them but I consider all of them my children, if only for a month.
This is what I have been doing in South Africa: I’ve been a mommy.
I wake up before sunrise, walk in the cold to the main house on the property, and I take care of children until well after the sun has set. These children have climbed their way into my heart, and each day when they give me hugs, just because, my heart melts a bit more. I change nappies (diapers), wipe runny noses, play games, teach colours, wash dishes, put kids in time out, sing silly songs, dance [terribly] just to get them to laugh, both love and dread nap time, feed, swaddle, and fetch dummies (pacifiers/binkies) for 10-12 hours a day. But I think about them, smile because of them, and pray for then 24 hours a day. I go to bed exhausted, still thinking about how to love them better, and I regret nothing. I drink about 5 cups of coffee and/or tea daily without shame. Every bit is worth it. Every smile is precious. Every laugh and giggle warms my heart. I’m willing to sacrifice myself for these kids, and I wasn’t sure that it was possible for me to do that. Being a mom involves sacrifice of rights (term used loosely here) such as my right to eat the food I want, when I want, without interruption, or the right to sleep when I want, my right to not conclude my day covered in food, snot, and poo, and whatever the kids got themselves into, and these are the very things I gave up each day. I felt overworked, exhausted, stressed out, sleep deprived, cold, and even sick, but I found joy in serving these kids.
The love and joy I found in these kids made my sacrifice worth it. Just like the love and joy I’ve found in the Lord have made every sacrifice rightfully in His name worth it. It’s simple, and I’ve heard it many times, and I believed it too, but experiencing it in different capacities acts as a catalyst to be more willing to sacrifice more in the future. It’s about building trust and having a solid foundation for faith based on truth, and then allowing yourself to sacrifice your rights for the sake of that truth.
So here’s to mothers and fathers sacrificing themselves every day for their children. Thank you for your love and support. Thank you for being role models. And thank you for exemplifying Christ in a way that no other can.
