A week ago tonight, I was given an award. My husband had planned an evening of celebration on the eve of my third Mother’s Day. The house was clean; our little kitchen decorated with flowers and an inflated balloon that spelled out “Happy Mother’s Day” in colorful jewel tones. This Mother was happy. Our boys were dressed up with smiles on their faces, my husband in his pink button down shirt. He had prepared an entree fit for a banquet, and I felt the joy of many answered prayers swelling up in my throat. So blessed. I had a surprise wrapped up in fuchsia paper, a color many girls delight in. As I unwrapped the box, I was a bit shocked by the gift inside. A small pair of hands helped his Daddy pass it to me, a shiny plaque that included my name, with a note to be awarded “For Excellence in Motherhood.” Tears multiplied and sparkled against the glass. I was in awe of such thoughtfulness, a reminder of work noticed, time I love.
I had a conversation with a dear Mommy friend of mine, and we talked of Super Moms, how some Moms appear to easily tote their three or four children around, without breaking a sweat, and how impossible it seems at the moment for me to take both of mine out, anywhere. I told her she was a Super Mom. She protects her baby girl, she adores her, and it is known. She asks for God to guide her and loves her husband as herself. Super indeed.
I’ve heard it preached time and again on the priorities of a family. Of course, God first, according to Deuteronomy 6:5. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart.” If married, the spouse next, as Ephesians 5:25 says a married man is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. The same for a wife to her husband. If the husband and wife are one, their fruit – children – would be the third priority, as we seek to raise up warriors and leaders in God’s Kingdom.
So many days, I fail. I am not Super, but I want to be. I thank God for a husband who loves God first and awards me with compliments, grace and even sparkly recognition. I am thankful for a partnership invested in leading our children into obedience and service for our Savior and King Jesus. I think of my #1, #2 and #3 priorities, the order I’ve placed them and how I’ve loved on them in return. My hope is to remember how to count correctly and have my affection for my #1 make all the difference, exponentially. I want to use this means to be my measuring stick in whether I can actually be “Super” or not. Thankfully, God tells us that being “Super” is possible, because of his Super, great love for us.
“And giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of Light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin.” Colossians 3:12-14
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