SUPERPOWERS

The other day I stood looking out of my kitchen window staring at my mother’s house (which is right next door) and thought to myself,

‘How did she survive this?’

Motherhood.

It is so hard some days I think I’m going to lay down and die because my mind and body shouldn’t be able to withstand the brutality.  When the boys used to take naps, I would crawl up the stairs at 1pm, daily, and collapse at the top of the stairs.  Now they are awake for 12.5 straight hours.  And they are energetic for 12.5 hours.  And hungry for at least 10 of those hours.  And with their 2.5 hours they are not eating, they are breaking things, getting dirty, or jumping.

My mother has always been able to work circles around me, but I thought it was because she was a mom.  I assumed that when women pushed out a baby, that they simultaneously gained supernatural powers that allowed them to accomplish mountains of work and never tire.

I assumed that when I pushed out my babies, that my moodiness, sleepiness, and selfishness would disappear.  My mother has never been moody or sleepy or selfish.  She accomplishes mountains of work, and on very little sleep.

When we were young, she used to rest at stoplights.  I am not kidding.  And she would be extremely happy if we pulled up to a train.  She would jerk the gear shift into park, lean her seat back, and say ‘wake me up when it passes.’  A few weeks ago when we got home at 11 p.m., she cooked food for a children’s fundraiser event while the rest of us snoozed.  This is how a typical phone call with my mother goes.

‘What time will you be home, mom?’

‘Well, I just have to feed the homeless, meet with someone for prayer, list 6 houses, visit a friend in the hospital, and mediate for world peace.  I should be home no later than 5:00’ (I generally add 35-40 minutes to her ETA.  Listing houses can be time-consuming.)

‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.’  James 1:27

She is fiercely selfless.  The other day I went in her room to get something, and noticed that she had post-it notes pasted all over her dresser.  At second glance, I realized they were prayer requests.  They were directly across from her pillow.  From the moment her eyes open, she is thinking about others above herself.

‘praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,’ Ephesians 6:18

My mother is not moody.  She presents the perpetual sunny side of every obstacle.  She illumines the silver-lining.  She cheers from the side, ‘our grass is already greener!!’  She is ever the cheerleader, motivator, encourager, the beaming smile in a crowd.  She is joy and she is light.

‘In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’  Matthew 5:16

She never tires of doing what is right.  She is a visionary and a steadfast worker for the harvest.  She never looses hope, and believes and perseveres in all things.  Even when there’s darkness.  Even when others lose hope.  Even when others fall away.  She never tires.

‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.’ Hebrews 12:1-3

I have seen my mother persevere.  She had 3 wayward children.  She trusted the Lord for their redemption and never gave up.  She now has 3 children serving God in different ministries.

I don’t know when my mother got her superpowers.  But she has them.  And I’m not sure why I don’t have mine yet.  But just being in her company gives me energy and hope and patience and gentleness and faithfulness to mother my children.  She embodies love, joy, and peace.

I count her as blessed.

‘Her children arise and call her blessed…’ Proverbs 31:28

Thank you, Mommy, for using your superpowers for good.  For being Jesus with skin on. I love you and am eternally grateful for who God called you to be, and your willingness to walk so beautifully in your calling.

Happy Mother’s Day