To Be a Mother

A week or so ago I was able to get together with my sisters. My youngest sister (unmarried) made a comment about how it seemed hard to be a mother. I responded, "IT IS!.... But it also brings the greatest joy!"

How grateful I am to be a mother. And for the many wonderful examples of what a mother should be, especially my own mom.

On our church program this last Sunday was the following quote by Elder M. Russell Ballard,

I am impressed by countless mothers who have learned how important it is to focus on the things that can only be done in a particular season of life. If a child lives with parents for 18 or 19 years, that span is only one-fourth of a parent’s life. And the most formative time of all, the early years in a child’s life, represents less than one-tenth of a parent’s normal life. It is crucial to focus on our children for the short time we have them with us and to seek, with the help of the Lord, to teach them all we can before they leave our homes. This eternally important work falls to mothers and fathers as equal partners. I am grateful that today many fathers are more involved in the lives of their children. But I believe that the instincts and the intense nurturing involvement of mothers with their children will always be a major key to their well-being. In the words of the proclamation on the family, “Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.”

I was touched by these words of wisdom. Motherhood, at least the in-home rearing part, really is such a short season of my life! I must make the very most of it! I looked up the article and was also impressed by this line:

There is no one perfect way to be a good mother.

Amen. We are all so different. Different challenges. Different talents. Different children. I must strive to be the best mother I can be. To be a mother is such a wonderful thing.

Happy Belated Mothers Day to all you wonderful women! And thank you for your examples.