Family Alive

I subscribe to a great newsletter from a website called, Premeditated Parenting, and I just have to share an excerpt from the latest email with you this morning. For all my invaluable mom friends out there…

A “Baby Blues” cartoon pictured a mom sitting on the floor with a baby playing at her feet. She was thinking, “I’ve witnessed every burp, smile, hiccup and whimper this baby has ever made at the expense of my personal interests, career and social life. She then picked up the baby and said, “Good trade!”

Mothering can be very precious… and it is full of sweet moments. Yet the tradeoff isn’t really between career advancement and precious moments. There’s so much more than that.

John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (NIV)

1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another. (TNIV)

Motherhood involves countless sacrifice, not just of self-advancement, but of day-to-day desires. It is endless cooking, cleaning, washing, picking up, correcting, encouraging, explaining, comforting, and I could easily go on. Choosing that life is sacrifice; and choosing that life is love.

While the occasional precious moments may provide a momentary pick-me-up, the greatest encouragement should be that God is pleased with you, and with every choice you make to love your child at your own expense.

Have you traded sleep, peace, body shape, and interests to be a good mom? Good trade!

All I can say is “AMEN!” I’m stealing a few quiet moments this morning before Analise wakes up. Josiah woke up ready to eat at 6, so he’s been fed, burped and snuggled with me on the couch. He’s being a patient boy right now next to me in his swing. He’s just started to make baby sounds, so as I’m typing, he’s making sweet little squeaks, gurgles, ooh’s and ahh’s. I’ve made a good trade:)