1 Corinthians 13 for Moms
~~Author Unknown
I can read bedtime stories till the cow jumps over the moon
and sing "Ten Little Monkeys" until I want to call the doctor--but if
I don't have love, I'm as annoying as a ringing phone.
I can chase a naked toddler through the house while cooking
dinner and listening to voice mail, I can fix the best cookies and Kool-Aid in
the neighborhood, and I can tell a sick child's temperature with one touch of
my finger, but if I don't have love, I am nothing.
Love is patient while watching and praying by the front
window when it's 30 minutes past curfew. Love is kind when my teen says,
"I hate you!" It does not envy the neighbors' swimming pool or their
brand-new mini van, but trusts the Lord to provide every need.
Love does not brag when other parents share their
disappointments and insecurities, and love rejoices when other families
succeed. It doesn't boast, even when I've multi-tasked all day long and my
husband can't do more than one thing at a time.
Love is not rude when my spouse innocently asks, "What
have you done today?" It does not immediately seek after glory when we see
talent in our children, but encourages them to get training and make wise
choices.
It is not easily angered, even when my 15-year-old acts like
the world revolves around her. It does not delight in evil (is not
self-righteous) when I remind my 17-year-old that he's going 83 in a 55-mph
zone, but rejoices in the truth.
Love does not give up hope. It always protects our
children's self-esteem and spirit, even while doling out discipline. It always
trusts God to protect our children when we cannot. It always perseveres,
through blue nail polish, burps and other bodily functions, rolled eyes and
crossed arms, messy rooms and sleep overs.
Love never fails.
But where there are memories of thousands of diaper changes
and painful labor(s), they will fade away. Where there is talking back, it will
(eventually) cease. (Please, Lord?) Where there is a teenager who thinks she
knows everything, there will one day be an adult who knows you did your best.
For
we know we fail our children, and we pray they don't end up in therapy, but
when we get to heaven, our imperfect parenting will disappear. (Thank you,
God!)
When we were children, we needed a parent to love and protect us. Now that
we're parents ourselves, we have a heavenly Father who adores, shelters us and
holds us when we need to cry.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
Happy Mother's Day!!
