Love you Forever

Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8

I just finished reading Kinley the famous book, I love you forever. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s the tale of the mother who rocked her baby and sang about how much she loved him. The story continues as the baby grows and she rocks her two-year-old and her nine-year-old and her teenager. Finally, she drives to her grown son’s house and when he is asleep, she creeps into his room and rocks him while he sleeps, too.

This book has found a way to always bring a tear to my eye.  It speaks straight to my heart about the beauty of parenthood and the continuous circle of life and love. As we go through the tough stages in raising our children, it makes me remember that this stage will not last forever.  

Even though my girls can drive me crazy at times, my love for them is unconditional.  I’m so happy I still have the opportunity to hold them in my lap and soothe them when their hurt.  I’m thankful that at this moment in their life, I am their whole world.  I am in charge of making their days happy and healthy and that right now I am enough.

I know there will come a day when my little girls will grow up and I will no longer be their whole world.  So for today, I’m going to cherish this precious time I have with them and expand my capacity for silliness and learn new ways to play with them.  I’m going to keep my promises and let them know that they are my greatest treasures.  I’m going to be generous with my hugs and kisses and treasure this gift of motherhood to its fullest capacity. 

Here is a beautiful prayer that I came across that reminds me that God's Love is present in helping me on this motherhood journey.

"Lord, you know my inadequacies.  You know my weaknesses, not only in parenting, but in every area of my life.  I'm doing the best I can to raise my kids properly, but is may not be good enough.  as you provided the fish and the loaves to feed the five thousand hungry people, now take my meager effort and use it to bless my family.  Make up for the things I do wrong.  Satisfy the needs that I have not met.  Compensate for my blunders and mistakes.  Wrap your great arms around my children, and draw them close to you.  And be there when they stand at the great crossroads between right and wrong.  All I can give them is my best, and I will continue to do that.  I submit them to you now and rededicate myself to the task you have placed before me.  The outcome rests securely in your hands."

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13