Just pin a badge on me and call me "Mother of the Year!" :) I received, by far, one of the best compliments I could receive - as a mom - this morning. Here's what happened: My 4-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, has ballet class on Wednesday mornings. At her dance school there is a small waiting room where the moms can sit and wait while their little ones are in class. Because Brooklyn's class is thirty minutes long I try to bring snacks for Jackson and something for him to play with. Most of the time he just wants to run around and find the very thing he is not supposed to get into and, of course, get into it. I get a thirty-minute workout every week while I "wait" for Brooklyn's class to be over. Not only is Jackson busy, but also he is two years old. (Do I really need to elaborate on that? - I think we are all familiar with the challenges of keeping a 2 year old contained in a small space! :)
So this morning, I had a minute to sit down while my precious son had found some blocks to play with for a minute or two. As I took a brief break, one of the other moms with whom we share the waiting room, said to me, "Wow! You are so patient with him!" I let out a deep sigh and simply said, "Thank you." I didn't have time to talk any further as Jackson was - at that very moment - turning the light switch off in the room.
As I spent the rest of the class time - trying earnestly to keep Jackson distracted from all of the "no, no's" - I did so with a new sense of confidence. Maybe you are like me, in that, most of the time I am so absorbed in the present moment with my kids - keeping them safe, guiding them, meeting their needs, setting boundaries - that I often times forget that people are watching me. I get so wrapped up in just trying to survive some of these more challenging moments that the rest of the world disappears around me. I don't really see myself as being patient with my kids. In fact, I pray daily...sometimes minute-by-minute, for patience and grace to handle all the "stuff" my kids bring my way. I usually feel like I am failing at it.
Then, this morning, that sweet mom in the waiting room made a personal observation, and the rest of my day was made! I know I don't always handle things so well, and I've messed up in public before. However, today I feel like "Mother of the Year”.
Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
I want my life to be a reflection of God, and when I exhibit – even in it’s most raw form – one of the fruits of the Spirit, I find myself encouraged. Progress is being made. I feel infused with strength and energy, and I am ready to tackle both the little things and the big things. (Even as I write this Jackson is pulling stuffing out of one of the playroom pillows – God is growing patience in me for sure!)
I will conclude with this thought (if I try to drag this out any longer I’m afraid I may have no throw pillow left): I honestly don’t expect to get a “Mother of the Year” badge or anything like that. I’m not looking for one. The reason I even feel worthy of an award today is because I exhibited patience while dealing with my busy two-year-old, to the point that someone noticed. Do I do it to be noticed? No. However, I am encouraged that patience was flowing through me when I needed it the most, and I bore the reflection of Christ to a group of moms who may have no idea who Christ is, as well as to my energetic and curious two-year-old boy. Mission accomplished...for today!