The Mercy of Mamahood

It was a day of emptying.  One last load of laundry lingered, fresh Downy scented towels to wrap the washed.  But it would need to wait because the ones in need of a washing were too busy getting dirty.  Big brother dug a “pond” and three times the clothes of the littlest had to be changed.  Sand was carried and sand was then poured.   The porch was swept three times as the littlest explored and carried in his findings.  The chickens climbed the stairs to our deck and after being chased down by the puppy went straight to eat our new bird seed.  Then we were all chasing chickens.  A favorite meal was started but milk was needed and no where to be found.  I made a way, us mothers have a way of making a way.  They all came in, along with the sand and leaves and footprints.  The house that just got put back together was torn apart by life being lived in no time.   A toilet was found and shoes were thrown in.  The sink that was clean was now filled again.  So I stood there, poured the white soap out and I washed.  I got the broom out and once again I swept away the dirt.  Not because I like it, but because I love them.

We survived that day of emptying and this Mama needed time to herself and time with her love.  But us mom’s usually never have much time on our hands.  So time was made for Him, for me and for my love by setting aside sleep for just awhile longer.

Then morning quickly came.  A house full and filled with three still young enough to cuddle and hug and appreciate along with a puppy to greet you with a wagging tail.  A morning should be, could be expected to be, something far from what this morning was.  This morning came with the littlest waking early clenching my cheeks in his tiny fists.  Followed by him sitting his in-need-of-a-changing sweet little bum right on my head.  My glasses were stolen and in an attempt to recover them my glasses were thrown.  Because this Mama simply can’t keep up.  The puppy with a wagging tail was forgotten the night before, never put in her pen and we woke to her “mess.”  Good morning mama.

I stood outside with our pup, asking God how a house so full could not only fill me but simultaneously empty me.  How a morning with so many little hearts in our home could seem like such a wreck.  I really didn't even had time to catch my breath from the day before.  Or honestly, the day before that and the one before that.  But I was reminded of this high-calling of mama hood.  One that totally undoes us.  The role of mama: filled to be emptied again.  Emptied of ourselves to make more room for Him.  Because we.are.blessed.  And we are lavished with grace to get through and bring us to our knees in gratitude before a Savior who has done it for us.  We can barely stand at the end of some days, days the kids run us dry, days the husband and the friends and the work wrings us out.  We can barely stand and we don’t have to.  We can fall helplessly, completely, surrendered at the foot of the cross.
     
We can get it wrong.
We can get undone.
We can not be enough.

Set aside our guilt and receive His grace.

Grace that washes our sins white as snow, helping us get it right.
Grace that cleans our hearts time after time, lavishes itself and puts us together.
Not because we deserve it but because He loves us and He is enough.  

One mom outnumbered by three kids.  Three little mouths to feed, needs to meet and voices to be heard.  One set of hands to bake, to wash, to hold and one pair of ears to hear.  One mind to listen to and nourish the minds of three high paced, relentless beings.  And whether it’s three or two or one or five, us mom’s always seem to be outnumbered.

A mama of little ones will spend her days filled: little hands to hold, kisses to give, lullaby's to sing, hurts to mend, meals to bake, the dirty to wash, a lap to cover and priceless artwork to receive.  While she is filling, she will pour herself out.  Because that’s what a mama does, it’s her gift to her children:

To pour her life into the precious lives she’s been blessed to nourish, care for and grow.  

Because that's what Christ did, His mercy poured out on the cross for us, it was His gift to us:

He poured His Life out for us that we may have life to the full, be healed and saved.  

That’s the mercy of motherhood.