Looking in my hope chest as a young mom, I came across a brochure my mom had given me.  It was a baby care brochure that came from the Miami hospital where she had me in 1968.  It was all they had given her.  It was pretty silly, actually.  A small 31 page brochure of how to take care of a baby for 2 weeks.  The information on baby care consists of only 13 pages… the rest is baby names.  They advise hiring a baby nurse.  Seriously?  If only.

If you make it past the 14 days, you are on your own!

Being motherless has made an impact on me.  I miss her the most on Mother’s Day.  At the time of my baby’s births, my mom was already gone…

I had felt more prepared than my own mom with all the research and planning I had done while waiting patiently with my swollen belly.

That is until the nurse laid that brand new baby on my chest and this daunting realization of… this isn’t just a baby but a soul.

“You don’t have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.”  C.S. Lewis

As a mother, God has entrusted me with more than just precious babies.  He has entrusted me with three beloved souls that are eternal.  She will spend her forever somewhere.  It is our responsibility as moms to tell and teach our kids about the things of God…..  When we lie down and when when get up.

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 11:19

I know I can not pull this off by myself.   I mess up daily.  In trying to authentically embrace an imperfect life, I must trust Him.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.”

Making my way through crunchy sticky floors and undone chores with imperfect attempts, and unkind words that fall out of my mouth too late to stuff back in;  I am grateful for His trust in me.

And although the hospital didn’t give me an inadequate baby care brochure, I can rely on God’s manual as my guide.  As I look at my girls I know they are counting on us.

They may not remember what I say, but they will remember what I do.

I resolve to not take motherhood lightly, to use His words as my manual, to embrace the imperfect moments that are gone all too soon, and to be grateful for this short time entrusted to me.

I pray your Mother’s Day is filled with the knowledge that God entrusting precious children (biological, adopted, or loved) to you is truly a gift.  Not the kind with fancy bows but ones with eternal souls.