Big Fits, Little Prayers, and a Holy Calling

Some days I wish I could leave the kids at home and go to work, or go anywhere, on my own. I find my alone time in the bathroom, in the shower, and that is pretty much it.  These days, with a big belly in tow, my energy runs low, and my kids energy runs high. Yesterday Bridger only wanted to play games and watch movies, he begged for candy, ... refused to help... threw a fit... we put him in his room around 5:30 and he slept all night.  Aaah.

I have moments when I wonder why I do it? What is the purpose? What is my purpose? Swimming through the mundane and trivial, I searched for the reason, or a more distinguished/enlightened idea (career) to buoy me up, and turn me into the person I should be... My search led me to decide that my mission... my life's work is my children! I keep myself sane, educated, healthy, and fit so I can be there for them!

And when I stop and reflect, or, take a nap, I remember what a blessing they are to my life!  No doubt it is work, but the blessings are real. They are so good, so sweet, and they have been entrusted to my care, though they are not mine... Children of God, and at moments I can see them as angelic. Like when they sleep... ;)

Little prayers. So sweet, honest, and pure. As Myra blesses everything she can see on our dinner table... the salt, the chickens (chicken pieces)... As Bridger tells Heavenly Father he is thankful for good parents, and his friends Max and Al (dog and alligator stuffed animals). I find in them the kind of child-like attributes Jesus counseled us to develop.

Bridger's great big hugs. Myra's little kisses on my cheeks. Through the good and bad, the uproar and the quiet, testing and true, they are my work. I have the responsibility to lead them, guide them, walk beside them, and help them find their way. And to teach them. To love them.

Michelangelo's life work was his paintings, mine is my children. As a potter sculpts his clay, I hope to yield some good influence toward my children. They are the work I want to leave behind.

Motherhood is my holy calling. As I spent some quiet time this morning in the temple reading a passage of scripture (in Alma 13), I understood my holy calling is my children. This is the work God has called me to do. As his work and his glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39), my work in this life, is to assist God in his. What work could possibly be greater?

A previous aha moment for me, was discovering there are seasons to life. But though the seasons will change as my kids grow and mature, I will always be their mother. My calling is a life-long calling. I know I need God's help. I know I need the blessings I find in the temple.

I hope Myra will continue to bless everything on, and everyone around, the dinner table. I hope Bridger will keep praying for his parents! Or, more especially, that they will remember to pray for their mom! Oh, how I love them.