This morning I woke up thinking about a friend of mine (a mom) who is struggling with depression and feeling insignificant. I get that. I understand the sadness and unshakable feelings of despair that are part of walking through life with depression as a companion. I get the insignificance thing too, because I've been there. But feeling insignificant doesn't mean you ARE insignificant, especially as a mom.
You remember that Bette Middler song, "The Wind Beneath My Wings". The thing about wind is you can't see it. It's invisible. Good moms are the proverbial wind beneath the wings of their family. They pack lunches, and drive carpool. They read stories, wipe noses and behinds. They do laundry, make dinner, and apply band-aids - sometimes simultaneously. Good moms create an environment for their family to thrive. But the nitty gritty of building an environment to thrive are endless thankless tasks. No wonder moms feel insignificant, so much of what they do is unseens, and taken for granted. But the service of a mother, just like the wind beneath the wings of an eagle in flight, is essential.
I have another friend, who is adopting a little girl from China. The little girl is almost 4 and has significant special needs. But probably the biggest hurdle to overcome, for this family, is healing a little girl who has not had a mother's love. She has spent her young life without the security of a mother to rock her, or kiss her owies, or give her baths and read her stories. These little acts of service, are critical to a child's health and survival. Children who grow up without them are hurting and broken. They need a family. They need consistent, determined, self-less mother-love. In most cases, it is their only hope.
My friend, the one who is feeling insignificant, is a great mom. Her boys are some of the most well adjusted, happy, healthy kids on the planet. What she does as a mom may be invisible, but I can sure see the effects in her boys. They have been well loved, and nurtured, and she has no idea of the legacy she is leaving. In God's economy her acts of service could not be more significant.
Sometimes the invisible things are the most important.
2 comments:
Thanks. I needed that perspective. I spent the whole morning playing with Legos and doing laundry.
Stephani----You have such great insights. I think you should have been a Counselor! How Baby has changed. You do complain about the work of being a Mom sometimes BUT YOUR GOOD AT IT AND YOU LOVE THE JOB.
I love you.
Grandma T.
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