Happy Mother's Day

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

Being a Mom, for nearly thirty-five years and having four wonderful children is probably the greatest blessing that I could have hoped for. They grow up, they leave (or die), they build their own lives and no matter what, nothing will ever change the fact that I am their Mom. What a life! What blessings they have been! And, I'm thankful for my memories . . . every one of 'em. Mother's Day is a good day to go through old photos and treasure boxes.

When they need something, they always call. Otherwise, they are busy with their own lives.

May you always be overwhelmed by the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life and be grateful that you have experienced being a Mom. Happy Mother's Day and do enjoy your children no matter how old they are!