Letters to the Future: Mother's Day

Dear Rebecca (of the future),

When you can look into the eyes of my little ones without bending over, when you can have conversations with my children about when they were babies as you tickle their own babies toes and when you can welcome more sons and daughters into your arms as sons and daughters-in-law, you will be in an entirely different season of life than I am now and I fear, you might have forgotten. Forgotten what it was like to be in the season that your daughters' and daughters-in-law are in now. May I remind you?

I am the Rebecca that answers 'WHY?" questions all day, that kisses boo-boo's, that struggles to teach Math without losing patience, that washes sippy cups and a table full of dishes after every meal-by hand. I am the Rebecca that carries around babies on my hips and in my belly, the one who has children crawl into her lap every time she sits to read to herself-and ends up reading to them. I am the Rebecca who must do piles of laundry and pick up toys and be walked in on when I am going to the bathroom.

I am the Rebecca who can't even have quiet when I shower.

I am the Rebecca who goes to bed exhausted at the end of the day.

I am the Rebecca who is in the trenches. You are in the trenches no longer. You are in the wonderful position of pleasuring in your children and grandchildren without being overwhelmed or overcome with the mundane. Your children seek your advice and love, they don't need you every moment anymore. You are reaping what you have sown, you are in the place where you are SEEING your fruits and tasting their deliciousness. You can look at your children and pat yourself on the back, not wipe your brow of its sweat. What a day that will be!

Your daughters and daughters' in law are likely right where I am by now. They are working hard for everyone else and, with such small children, are likely not getting any praise or thanks in return. They are falling asleep exhausted at the end of the day, knowing in their hearts that theirs is the most worthwhile, God-honoring of professions, but wondering how they will ever actually get through it. The dishes, the laundry, the schooling, the storytelling, the food preparing, the dressing, the diapering...all thankless jobs.

When you look at these women before you, see the sacrifices they make for your legacy, your grandchildren. Admire them for working so hard, for their selfless love of their spouse and your grandchildren. Thank them for the thankless work, remembering how it felt to NOT be thanked.

Take your grandchildren out to pick lilac bouquets for their mothers, or pick them yourself for her. Help those wee ones form silly clay beads with roly-poly fingers and encourage them to string gaudy necklaces for their Mama's. Create secret cards with construction paper and markers-teaching your grandchildren gratitude toward their Mama's.

Remember that your children are now Mothers too. Understand that they deserve recognition on this wonderful Mother's Day, and with such young families, are likely not getting it. Don't force them to spend the entire day celebrating YOU when they too, ought to be celebrated. And might just need it more.

Encourage them. Admire them. Tell them it is worth it. Appreciate them. Love them. You will likely find appreciation, adoration, and love being heaped upon you, abundantly and freely in return.

You know I love ya,

Rebecca