One of the Best Things my Mother Said to Me

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I was standing in the kitchen with my mother. Our house was milling with the sounds of a family with four children.  The background noise buzzed with kids playing, the dog barking, the T.V. blaring, the phone ringing, doors opening and closing, the dryer humming from the laundry room, and the timer going off from the oven to announce dinner was ready. 

My mother was a “stay-at-home” mom and worked harder than anyone I know. She was a volunteer extraordinaire, was multi-talented, and used her gifts in many ways to bring value not only to our home, but to our community. I was young but old enough to recognize her capabilities and all that she juggled.

As I stood in her presence, I do not recall what I said but do remember asking a question about the very large undertaking of motherhood

In the middle of our busy routine her words of wisdom were planted into my memory, which grew a healthy expectation that would give me long term perspective and strength. Her answer was loving, matter of fact, and truthful. Responding in a pleasant tone she replied,

“Being a mom is the hardest job in the world, but it is the best job in the world”.

This was one of the best things she ever said to me. Her response made me feel secure. She loved being our mom and appreciated it even among the chaos. Her comment was lighthearted but held the weight to root itself and offer a realistic picture that motherhood is not easy……and the fact that motherhood is not easy is o.k. and totally worth it. 

Her statement held a healthy balance of truth and joy, which allowed me to approach motherhood knowing there would be difficult moments. Her words laid the ground work to paint a realistic portrayal of a mother’s point of view. 

Her response empowered me with a healthy understanding that would set the tone for my own expectations as I became a mother. 

My mother’s response gave me strength as I entered mother hood and began to manage my own three stair steps. 

My mother’s words did not mean I would not have hard days.  Of course, there have been days where I feel overwhelmed and exhausted. Of course, there are days where I feel as if I have lost my mind. I lose my patience and get bogged down from the tasks and schedule. It is in those moments I remember my mother’s words and I know my feelings are normal and that I am not alone. Hard days are a part of life. It comes with the territory, which in turn helps me to know that a hard day is not the end of the world.

My mother told me I was worth it. I was worth her time, her sacrifice, her dedication.  My mother’s truth gave me strength as a child, a woman, and as a mother. Her words helped me to know that even when I feel overwhelmed I give my children what she gave me. Love, devotion, everything I am……..and it will give them strength just like she gave me. I have had the opportunity to say the same thing to my own children. I pass along a truth as old as time.

Being a mom is wonderful. It is the hardest job in the world, but it is the best job in the world.

 

 

 

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Sarah lives in Waco with her husband, Mark, and their three children Seth (11), Hannah Grace (9), and Adalee (6). Sarah and Mark just celebrated 16 years of marriage. Sarah grew up in Coppell, Texas (a Dallas suburb), and graduated from Baylor University with a BBA in Marketing in 2000. Sarah started her career in Sales, Marketing, and Advertising, and spent five years in corporate business. She then chose to stay home when her first two children were born. In 2009, Sarah took on the balancing act of being a business owner while maintaining the role of “stay at home” mom. Sarah found the many aspects of creating and implementing business strategies very fulfilling, and loved working in the beauty and skincare industry. After seven years of juggling these roles, she sold the business and has enjoyed taking time over the last year to write and prepare for the next stage of her “crazy life” Sarah was born with a passion for music, and has been leading praise and worship in different capacities since she was thirteen. Sarah and her family are members of First Baptist Church Woodway, where she is on the praise team, and has the blessing to serve in different areas of ministry. Over the years, she has been gifted with opportunities to create music, and to work with organizations such as the American Family Radio and Gospel Music Association, while releasing original music an independent artist within the Christian Contemporary genre https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/everypage/id373073044. Over the years, Sarah has loved getting to know the women of Waco by being involved in organizations such as Junior League, and MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers). These experiences, along with being a mom, have given her a heart to encourage and relate to other women. Over the past two years, Sarah has felt led to begin to share some of her own experiences as a woman and mom to help minister and to encourage others. She recently started a personal blog www.saranelsonblog.com, which is still in the process of completion. Sarah is currently writing a series on dealing with crisis from a spiritual perspective, which is based on her own personal experience. Her goal with this project is to help others find hope in hardship. Sarah is beyond excited about being able to share, and to be a part of Waco Mom’s Blog. The last sixteen years have been an adventure! Eleven of those years have been spent living in Waco. Sarah and Mark moved away from Waco twice to live in Austin and Miami, and moved back both times for business opportunities. They are grateful to have laid down roots that have grown deep within the heartbeat of the city. They are thankful for their community, and dear friends they get to live life with. Sarah is beyond blessed to call Waco home.