Ten Things: Part Three

7.            She carried you a lot longer than nine months.

Okay, logically and physically pregnancy takes nine months.  Everyone hopes that their baby is not born premature for obvious reasons.  Of course, we also hope that we do not go one minute past our due dates either.  Mentally and physically at that point, you are exhausted and sick of waddling around.  More importantly, in God’s great wisdom, at the end of nine months you cannot wait to begin holding and loving your child. 

What we do not realize at the moment our first child is born, is that emotionally and physically you will still carry that child.  God did not make us like animals, whose babies stand up and walk immediately upon birth.  We spend about one year physically carrying our children while they grow and develop.  Holding them in our arms and sitting them on our laps gives them a sense of security.  We are created to provide them with that, and they stay with us as we both prepare to separate yet again. 

Emotionally, we never stop carrying our children.  Even when we let them go little by little as they mature, we carry them in our hearts every step of the way.

8.            It broke her heart every time you cried.

Have I mentioned before all of the reasons that we cry as mothers?   Yea, just a few.  Our kids hurt our feelings and we cry.  I know that as she was growing up and angry at me, “Mini Me” was positive that I was heartless as I dealt discipline.  But we do have feelings, and they do get hurt.  I have also mentioned that we cry with joy when our kids accomplish great things in life – like going to the bathroom and getting out of diapers.  And I know that I have mentioned that when our kids hurt, no one hurts more than we do.  Whether it is that a boyfriend has broken her heart, or a girl turned down a date with him, or they fell down and scraped a knee or didn’t win first prize in something, when their hearts are broken, you cry too.  Sometimes we have the right to throw out an “I told you this would happen”, but somehow we never do.  With discipline, there is the old saying, “This is going to hurt me more than you.”  I distinctly remember my girls looking at me like I had lost my mind, when I said that after telling them they were grounded and had to miss time with that “special guy”.   Broken hearts are not contained within the walls of one person’s chest.  Broken hearts are shared with our children.  Somehow, I think God did that to get us through the pain.

It is a gorgeous day today.  Enjoy the sunshine, and give out tons of hugs to those you love!!!!