HUH?
Some days motherhood/womanhood doesn't seem joyful or noble. For real, wiping noses, changing diapers, mopping floors, washing dishes, driving the carpool, I won't even mention PMS... noble? Joyful? WHAT!!! Not really, and yet when I read my dear friends post about her baby girls blessing, or when I snuggle my very own baby and nibble on her ear and kiss her soft cheeks, okay that my friends is joyful and noble. But why then do I still doubt my worth and if what I am doing here is really important. I do on occasion have this conversation with myself. Nevertheless, deep in my soul I know, I really do believe that motherhood is near to divinity. Still I search for confirmation that this work that I am doing is valuable. Russell M. Nelson of the quorum of the twelve apostles said in his April 1999 conference address "Many years ago the First Presidency issued a statement that has had a profound and lasting influence upon me. (ME TOO!) “Motherhood,” they wrote, “is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.”
WOOHOO! This quote speaks to me. It makes me feel joyful and noble.
In my search for positive affirmation I came across this article by M. Russell Ballard titled "Daughters of Gods". He counsels young mothers (THAT"S ME) to first, recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction." On that note I thought I would shared a tiny, but joyful moment Belle and I shared last week. There were no words, just a simple sweet little moment shared at the kitchen sink. She was helping me wash the dishes and discovered the wonderful way the water splashes off a spoon if it hits it just right. I was delighted because I have very fond memories of playing with the spoons while doing dishes as a little girl. It was warm and wonderful, she discovered and I reminisced.
I do believe that there is joy in motherhood and nobility in womanhood. I really do! It does comes in moments. Sweet, precious, tiny little moments!
7 comments:
I believe that too and I have to cling to that thought (joy in motherhood comes in moments) daily. It's SO true. Our joys/happinesses come in these short little moments that make you go "ahhhh" and your heart is all mushy. And then the next moment you're cleaning up poop or enforcing a time out or stopping a fight. . . . . hoping all the while that the *next* joyful moment is coming soon! :)
Thanks for sharing - May I add as a "mother who knows" that as we cling to those moments - sometimes they turn into minutes and even hours of pure joy! I can endure the meanal tasks of motherhood when I find those sweet moments everyday - and some days you have to look really hard:)
Amen! Yesterday on the way home from church I asked Tim if it was time to just give up. (They were rotten little monkeys during sacrament meeting!!) But, now I look over at them, reading and/or drawing, laughing and playing together and oh how I love those little monkeys!
I love that moment you shared with Belle...the picture is cool!
I, too, am thankful for that quote. It helps me to remember to be on the lookout for delightful little moments throughout the day. If you aren't actively looking for them...they can be easy to miss.
Sometimes it does seem like we have to look pretty hard to find those "moments" amongst the chaos of raising a family, and then other times they are as clear as ever, and you wonder how you could ever complain. But this quote is such a great inspiration to me because it simplifies the whole thought process, we just have to have our eyes and hearts open to see motherhood and womanhood for what it really is, JOYful and NOBLE. But again that's not always easy when your child has clogged the toilet for the umpteenth time or you're cleaning up puke :) But it's all good!
That's a beautiful quote, and a beautiful picture. I'm so excited to be a mom--even with all of the challenges! I know that even helping care for my little brothers I have recognized those little joyful moments, and I'm so excited for that!
Jenn how fun to run into you the other day- I kick myself for not taking a picture- I always take pictures-
I think I was so surprised to run into anyone I knew that it didn't even cross by mind- plus Shannon had my camera =}
Happy Day- you have a very cute family.
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