Mother's Day

Percy (by Mary Oliver)

And now Percy is getting brazen.

Let's down the beach, he says.

Let's shake it with a little barking.

Let's find dead things and explore them,

by mouth, if possible.

And this is the thing that comes to each of us.

The child grows up.

And, according to our own ideas, is practically asunder.

I understand it.

I struggle to celebrate.

I say, with a stiff upper lip familiar to many:

Just look at that curly haired child now...he's his own man.

At our ladies group today, I thought that this being Mother's Day, we would take a break from our usual studies and share our experiences as mothers. All present were mothers with children ranging in age from seven to over thirty. We spoke of our joys and also of the challenges we face and our hopes as mothers. Several things came up, that most could identify with.

Children are precious gifts from God. Parents are stewards of these gifts and we are given the honor as God's representatives in raising our children. Each child is unique in character and talents. We need to be sensitive to each child's uniqueness and guide him or her accordingly. Time spent with children is essential. Very often we have to be around and catch the moments when our children are ready to talk and share with us. This cannot happen if we are always rushed or emotionally unavailable. We truly have to depend on God to help us in this precious yet challenging role of motherhood.

I find that the poem above speaks of my present experience with two growing teenage sons. As the poet suggests, her puppy growing up is one thing. A child growing up is a totally different experience. How my own ideas about what they should be at are slowly torn apart! How my own plans for them have to give way to God's plans for them. How much I am learning about letting go and just being there when they need me. My curly haired son (number one) is growing up. I struggle to understand and celebrate. At eighteen he is becoming his own man....and I pray one who will also grow to be a man after God's heart.