One afternoon before Easter, I was ironing cotton dresses and shirts for church the next day. Six year old Sarah watched for a while and then pointed to the iron and asked,
“What is that mummy?”
I laughed because I realized that this little girl had never seen me iron; I usually used the clothes dryer as my wrinkle smoother when I wasn’t looking for perfection but rather efficiency. My mother and aunt didn’t laugh when they heard this story;they were horrified, thinking that it was terrible I rarely ironed.
Actually it was not just the iron that seldom received attention as I mothered a large family, I eliminated many activities which I formerly thought crucial to my well being with the birth of every child.
Painting portraits went with Matthew. Other babies gave the boot to crafts, dusting, bread making, interesting meals and laundry folding (each child dressed out of their own personal laundry basket). As every mother knows, a newborn takes at least eight hours a day to nurse, burp, rock and comfort, bath, change clothes and diapers (at least ten times a day), and to wash diapers, clothes, receiving blankets, sheets and baby blankets as well as your clothes which tend to get covered in vomit, and other nasty surprises.
The lack of sleep leads to a rather narrow existence where the best days are when you can sneak in a nap or shower and dress before noon. Oh, those were the days when babies reduced life to the basics.
Guess what?
Those basics were all I required when I relaxed and allowed myself to live in the moment, enjoying my newborn rather than bemoaning all the “important” activities that I couldn’t seem to even start. The very fact that everything my little one required to grow and thrive was inexpensive and near at hand was amazing. My baby didn’t need a lot of money spent on him, he simply needed arms to hold him, mother’s milk to drink and warm clothes and blankets
.
A friend who had five children, couldn’t quite grasp my peaceful demeanour as I sat nursing a newborn with family life whirling about me. She finally surmised that I was content to enjoy the present experience of mothering a tiny, dependant newborn. Her comments sparked an epiphany in me which kicked out guilt. I think I must have received a gift of understanding that ultimately my failings and lapses would be covered and hidden by Love.
What a beautiful story! God Bless, SR
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🙂
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Thank you My Sister in Christ for sharing this very beautiful story of love and joy in the moment, and especially on this great day of blessings. It shows that you have a heart of gold bounded up with Jesus Christ as He expressed His love and joy for all of His Children. Thanks for sharing your Palm Sunday with all of us. May God continue to bless you abundantly in Jesus name.
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this is my “secular” blog but I am pleased you realize who led and taught me
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God has a way of using each one of His Children in a special way for His glory. In doing so, we all learn and are much better prepared as we face the many obstacles in the secular world. It also helps to prepare us for the Kingdom to come, as we open our minds to the truth of what we a being taught. I enjoy reading your stories. Keep them coming.
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thank-you so much- and I enjoy yours as well
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Melanie,
If you would not mind run over to http://catholiclite.wordpress.com She is a convert coming into the Church. She is having questions about contraception. I think you can help her about as good as anyone. Thanks a bunch! God Bless, SR
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of course
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Thanks so much! God Bless, SR
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🙂
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It is love that can make certain sacrifices feel light.
The love that a mother has for her baby definitely places the baby as priority.
You are an inspiring mother!
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you are so right and that love is a gift if you are open to receive it
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Sure. You are precisely on point!
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🙂
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I’m a self- confessed non-ironer myself much to my mother’s disgust. I envy you your calm and knowledge and certainty about what’s really important.
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it took a looong time
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Iron, what is that? And you are right about babies. What they need most is warm and comfort of Mother’s breast milk and cuddle.
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🙂
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What’s your background photo? Nice blog!
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it is a painting by Johannes Vermeer Mistress and Maid 1667- I LOVE all his work
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Great stuff! And thanks again for the tips!!
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You probably know the first two
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I did…I just need to post them on the ones that ones that I haven’t been doing. I ad absolutely no idea about anything with #3. Thank you very much my friend!!
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I have been writing for 1 year and 1 week. so i am still stumbling around. I cross-post on Christian sites and mom sites. At BrooWaha, also
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Tony also is CEO of BrooWaha and I cross-post there as well. ALWAYS promotes new writers, GREAT interaction . Where I have only 7,000 reads on WordPress ( I only started using social media in September, I have 55,560 reads since mid Sept. on BrooWaha because Tony promotes and has lots of contacts
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So enlightening to read your adventures of life with 9 children! Brings back many memories with my aunt’s 11. Love your spunk and sparkle showing through these peeks into your life.
Blessings, Melanie Jean 🙂
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I have never been called spunky but like it
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