Beatitudes for Mothers

It's hard to imagine living in a home with several generations - grandparents, parents, children. Many cultures do or have done this at some point. The wisdom of it hit me after I had my first daughter. For whatever reason, God has not yet had it in His plans for me to stay home with the girls full time. We don't drive fancy cars, in fact, part of the inside of the roof of my husband's car is held up with duct tape. We don't go on vacation, unless you count the marriage retreat we're trying to get to in July! We've done everything within reason to cut our expenses to afford it but it just seems that for now this is how it is to be! I am have been very lucky to only have to work part time and extremely lucky to have a mom who will watch my kids for me while I am gone. There are a lot of times that I start feeling sorry for myself that I have to work and that I miss out on this precious time with my children but when I think about the love and care they receive it makes me feel a lot better. The other blessing in this is that my mom has been able to really teach me how to be a mom. By watching how she interacts with my kids, what she teaches them, and how she plays with them I've learned so much.

I think that is something that we miss out on as a society that values family independence and separation. We had neighbors in the last house we lived in that had 3 generations living together - and it was small house! Other neighbors would make comments from time to time about how many people lived there although they made no trouble for anyone else and it did not affect anyone in the neighborhood at all. But I think they have an advantage living that way. New parents not only have support but the wisdom of their elders and the guidance in raising their children.

Even though we don't live with my parents I am able to still learn from my mom through her examples as a babysitter. I need to hold on to that thought on the days I'm frustrated about being away from the girls.

I started thinking about all of this when my mom sent this beautiful poem to myself and my sister in law. It hit me immediately that this it described her as a mother. In all the lessons I'm learning from her about parenting, these are the ones I need to cling to the most.

Beatitudes for Mothers

Blessed are the mothers who love God;
For their children shall not be ignorant
Of their Creator and His plan concerning them.

Blessed are the mothers who love the Word of God;
For their children shall know
Of the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Blessed are the mothers who love the house of God;
For their children shall enter there with them
In the presence of God.

Blessed are the mothers who love to pray;
For their children shall feel the power of prayer
And many shall find salvation.

Blessed are the mothers who love to fight life's battles
With a strong and steadfast faith in God;
For their children shall know where to find
strength in time of need.

Blessed are mothers who love to sing praises to God;
For their children shall know the joy of being
a child of the king.

Author Unknown