“I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” – 2 Timothy 1:5
I am quickly approaching the 4 year mark of being a mother to three wonderful boys. The journey so far has been an amazing adventure (to say the least!) full of new lessons learned living each day surrounded by men. They are certainly a different breed!
During this educational time, I have learned to speak in black and white sentences–no gray areas allowed. I think outside the box more, and I plan further ahead than I did working in TV and films. But the best part is that I have seen them grow from wide-eyed kids to strong, discerning, young men of God. And even though I still get strange looks when people find out that we are raising them counter-culture, I press ahead because I know that once we set them free to test their wings, they will not stray too far from the path. Their foundation is strong and rooted in truth. And that is only because we’ve made certain to make family and individual Bible study a priority in our lives. This is because I realize that it is our job, not their peers, not society, extended family members, fellow classmates, or Sunday school teachers, to instruct them in what is right and wrong, acceptable and unacceptable, deserved or undeserved. And that can only be done by burying myself in the Word and applying that to being a mom.
This summer we will begin prepping our oldest son for college. I find myself getting excited about the road ahead for him. Having moved to Ireland as a young adult myself, I always encourage him to go out there and see the world. I tell him not to limit himself to a 100-mile radius around us. My head won’t explode if my kids don’t live a mile down the road. Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” Judging by my experiences, he was right on. So we have made it a point to take the boys to as many different cities as possible. “It’s all about being well-rounded and not ignorant,” mom would say–and the fact that they love books, architecture, and have vivid imaginations is a testament to Dwight and I striving to expose them to a lot of new experiences.
Okay, I will admit it… I’m a Mama Bear. If you slander, try to manipulate, lie to, mistreat, or hurt my kids, you are treading on some serious thin ice. I pray for them, fight for them, don’t helicopter over them, and love them more than I ever thought I could love a human being. The fact that they called me mom at such an early stage in our relationship is not lost on me, and the honor is never taken for granted. My mom had a great time with my sister and me, and I draw on those experiences to help raise my boys.
So, to all you happy, frustrated, exhilarated, overwhelmed and underslept moms out there, have a wonderful and truly blessed Mother’s Day. Your labor is not in vain. And whether your kids tell you or not, you rock.
God bless you,
Rebecca
