Good Like a Medicine

(Here are some pictures from Meredith’s birth and first few days…)

Meredith is asleep, and I’m sitting here listening to Norah Jones as I go through some mail and write a few letters. My mama just drove away a few hours ago, and I know it hasn’t hit me yet that she’s really gone. Still, it truly feels like home, and it’s largely because my mother made it that way this week.

My mama is (besides my dad) the hardest working person I know. Granted she can go on very little sleep, which frustrates me like crazy, but she truly never tires of serving others. It is her spiritual gift, and everyone who knows her knows that she’s going to give you the shirt off her back and then help you put it on if you need help doing that, too. Her heart and energy haven’t always amazed me; I guess I just grew up thinking that everyone has a mom like that, that wearing yourself out for the sake of your family is just something every mother does naturally… but I have learned as an adult that no, not everyone has this gift, and not everyone wants it. Many people are selfish with their time and energy, and they assume someone else will pick up the slack. My mama isn’t one of those people. She answers the call, day-in and day-out, and she goes the second mile all the time.

I know I said ‘thank-you’ hundreds of time this week, but I still just wanted to write publically how grateful I am for my servant-hearted mother. You would be amazed to see how hard she worked this week. From the time she arrived Thursday afternoon (I was just beginning active labor), she started running around doing all that needed to be done. Eric jokes about how the washer and dryer never stop when my mom is here, but we are truly thankful that she just looks around and cleans what is dirty and puts away what needs to be organized. She does it naturally, and I love that peace of mind that comes with her visits. She took care of me in the bed every day after Meredith was born, bringing food, water, medicines, and everything else I needed up and down the stairs, over and over. She tried to keep the kids happy and quiet, and on top of all of that she was hostess, cook, and maid!

Tonight before she left we had a quiet moment together eating at the table in the kitchen. Eric had arranged for a friend to keep Lydia and Steven while he worked late at church, so we could spend a little time together before she left around 6:30 to go home. When my mom prayed and thanked God for me, I lost it and began to cry like a newborn myself! I said, “Mama, why’d you have to go and do that? You got me all emotional!” But I am glad we could have that memory together. I held out my hand and took a backwards shot of us together, just to cherish the moment. Then, she packed up her things and headed for the door. Lydia and Steven were born 8 hours away from her, so I cried terribly after she left with both of their births. This time was a little easier, but my heart still sank to see her drive away, knowing that a lot of my strength was going with her . . .

She’s said it before, and I know it’s true: “If I can do it, so can you, and you know Who will give you the strength!”

I’m so thankful for my mama … and (haha) I hope she’s not reading this at work because she will probably need some kleenex! I love you, Mama!