I often struggle with feeling like what I do matters. That I am not very accomplished or somehow less than those who have achievements outside the home. I know being a mother is one of the most divine callings Heavenly Father could give to his daughters.... deep down I know that, but when the monotony of days and weeks go by, I can't help but slip back into my former thoughts. I try not to do this... but it does happen occasionally. Then yesterday I read something that for some reason "clicked". Anna Quindlen who is a Pulitzer Prize winner wrote in her book, Loud and Clear,
"if we stop to think what we do, really do, we are building for the centuries. We are building character, and tradition, and values, which meander like a river into the distance and out of our sight, but on and on and on."
So even though I may not feel like my work is important from time to time.... it is. Even though I have no paycheck to show for my work, even though no boss or supervisor will ever compliment, promote, or give me a bonus because I am doing a good job, I am doing the Lord's work. And it will affect generations to come. All of us who are mothers, whether to our own children or nieces, nefews, cousins, friends, neighbors and on and on, have an incredible power for good. If we don't take the time we have now to instill worthwhile values and teach our little ones things that are good and beautiful and praiseworthy who will? The world? That's a guaranteed no.
So with all these thoughts I was having yesterday I was feeling really emotional, and then something happened that was the straw breaking the camel's back.
If you have a child in school, you know when they get home, you go through their backpack together to see the homework, notes from teachers, etc. Well, Brandon put this litte note in the bottom of his bag for me to find. It's of me and him. And I knew, I do matter! Mothers matter! I taped this little reminder to my fridge so I can remember how important we mothers truly are.
4 comments:
Marie - you are a wonderful mother! This was a very touching post. I would give just about anything to be a mother, and it is because of the examples (like you) that I see of how families (like yours), and more importantly, mothers, influence a person's life. Kudos to you!!
Thanks for sharing! You would love the book 'The Invisible Woman' by Nicole Johnson. It is a short, easy read, dedicated to mothers and why they matter. I hope you know that your work as a Primary teacher also matters a great deal! Reid absolutely loves you and thinks you are the greatest, and he smiles when he tells me about everything he learned in class. Thank you, Thank you!
I know that you are awesome. There are certain people at church that I really look up to and you are definitely one of those! Spencer absolutely loved it when he got to be in your church class and that means a ton to me!
It's amazing that the most important and lasting lessons your kids will learn come from their parents and are really learned before they are even old enough to go to school! You teach them that they are important, that the world is basically a good place, that they can learn and grow, etc. Way to fight the good fight.
P.S. I love your hair in Brandon's picture! :)
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