I can’t think of any way my children have not affected my life!

When they were young…

I learned the first time little feet step on the grass – it tickles!

And dandelions are wonders that turn noses yellow, make great bouquets in paper cups, and stimulate the imagination as you blow wishes into the wind.

I learned toddlers are always at their crankiest when you are preparing dinner or when you want them to be at their very best.

I’ve learned when my Jeni was in the hospital, when I had barely six hours sleep in four days, I could still function.

As my children grew…

I learned that no matter what age they were, they have hidden radar that activates the minute I pick up the phone!

AND at that minute they always have some question of great importance that needs immediate attention.

I learned kisses only made little hurts better, big cuts need more time, more care. The real hurts are not external but cut deep within, often to the soul.

And I learned they can be easily missed.

I’ve learned to be assertive and speak up for my children when they couldn’t. And now I’m learning to allow them to speak for themselves.

With that I’m learning to listen. This is a hard one to learn, for it seems when I want to listen, they are not in the mood to talk. But often they get the gift of gab when I’m not in a listening mode.

Now as they are reaching adulthood…

I’ve learned the pain of them separating from me to become their own person.

And with that I’ve learned the joy of watching them blossom into unique individuals.

After twenty years of motherhood, I’ve learned that I’m not the perfect mom I set out to be. I’ve made many mistakes. Some I’ve learned from, others I don’t even know about yet.

I think back to almost twenty years ago… of holding my Jeni in my arms and I knew then what an incredible God we have. I could see His handiwork in her beauty. Then two years later, I was reminded again as I held the tiny fingers of my little Daniel.

And as I thought about holding them in my arms – gifts entrusted to me by God…

I learned that my arms were not strong enough to hold them.

I learned one day they would out grow them. And one day when they got hurt, they may not choose to seek my loving arms to comfort them.

But I learned God’s arms are strong and would always be there for them!

So the greatest and probably the hardest thing that Ive learned was to give the gifts that God had given me back to Him.

Yes, to me, it is an honor to be a mother…

It is an honor to have received three such wonderful gifts: the gift of Jeni; the gift of Daniel; and the gift of growing in trust and knowledge of our awesome God who has created each one of us.