A Mother's Heart

I love being a mom, and even though my children are all grown up now with kids of their own--there are times when they are still my little ones.  My three little chicks, whom I want to scoop up underneath my wings and protect.  However, they are bigger, taller, and most likely smarter than me now.  So, I let them be.  I do not push my values off on them, I do not judge them nor try to manipulate them.  At least I try.  I try really hard.  I have already had my mom time to mother them.  Now, it's time for me to be quiet.  To pray that they continue on with their lives, being productive citizens and kind hearted people, who serve their God with their whole hearts.  And they are.  I am blessed beyond measure.

I raised my children with my own value system based on Biblical concepts.  My values, my way.  I taught them as best I could.  I believe my parenting style would be called authoritative.  One who sets rules and boundaries, one who listens and loves and one who teaches thru example.  I tried hard to stay the course and give my children a feeling of stability.  And if you do this or that--these are the consequences of your actions--good or bad type of parenting style.  I believe that I was firm but loving.

Being that we were a Christian family, we went to church regularly and were very involved in all types of ministries, along with group and family activities.  I loved our little family.  We were happy.  We loved God and each other.  We have lots of family memories and I will always cherish those times.  I am now watching my children create those same types of memories with their own children.

However, and now the truth--I still have that mother's heart that sometimes, only sometimes wants to step in and say something.  A word to encourage, or a word to mildly correct.  Any yet.  And yet, I stop myself.  I had my turn and my turn is now over.  I stay quiet, I pray and most of all I trust.  Yes, that's it.  I trust.  I have complete and total trust in my God.  He will take up where my mother's heart has left off.  He will now take over the teaching, training, and the making of trials and tribulations that will come their way to gently (or sometimes not so gently) correct their course.  And that is where my faith will have to kick in.  I will walk by faith, that he will parent them for the rest of their lives, just as he has always done for me.

It's that act of walking out my faith when it comes to my children that might be the hardest for me.  I'm not sure.  It's something that I will have to think and pray about now.  Do I fully trust him when it comes to them?  I hope so.  I really do.

So here I am with a mother's heart--waiting oh so patiently to see what my father's heart will do for my children.  He has promised me that he will take care of them, protect them and love them more than I ever could.  He will lead them and guide them, he will walk with them in all their ways, he will provide for them, heal them, comfort them--he will be the closest friend they'll ever know.  And how do I know this?  I've learned from experience--he has always done that in my life.  And for that reason alone, I have and will continue to lay my love and concern for them at his feet.  Right along with my mother's heart.  I will bow before my God, lay my family at his feet and trust with my mother's heart.  Yes, I will.  I will do that.  I promise.