strawberries & sitting fees

I once thought that Mother's Day 2011 was a day I would be celebrating as a mother-to-be. That in the glow we find on all mom's on this day, I would be smiling inside knowing that this would be the first of many I might also be able to take part of as the 'celebrated'. Now, obviously that is not the case, I am not an expectant mommy just yet...and it would have been easy for me to dwell on this literally all day long. I prayed to God once and only once to take any sad or distractive thoughts from me this mother's day season. From then on it wasn't about me, and it shoudn't have been. This was to be a day to celebrate all the wonderful mother's in my life. I made the decision, I didn't think about myself of situation past that moment and I went into this day fully aware that it was going to be good.

And it was. I had shopped the night before for my mom as well as three other mom's I wanted to show a little praise to, three friends of mine. Now, the gift wasn't big, but I just wanted to give a little recognition that I recognize them not only as dear friends of mine, but as mom's & great ones at that. Blessing them blessed me in return.

During youth service for our junior highers, my husband handed me a box of chocolate covered strawberries.

I looked at him with a question mark on my face to which he replied, they're from so-and-so. I walked over to this sweet girl and thanked her for the treat, but told her that "I'm not yet a mom." She stood there so unaffected by my words and said, "I know, but even though you don't have a baby yet you are like a mom still." And as I looked around, all of our women leaders had each gotten a box, we served these kids and this little 6th grader took the time to give a little recognition to each of us. My heart melted. These kids also know about our struggle to conceive, to an extent. We decided to share with them this information to 1) allow them to partner and pray with us and 2) to some day then see that their prayers work & see God work that special miracle. That little gesture, though natural for her was so supernatural to me. It was the gesture my heart needed.

Later that day we took my mom to a little place where you pick pottery and paint it yourself. With lunch snacks spread out on one table and each of painting away we spent four hours laughing, talking and just being together celebrating my mom. She sat there soaking up ever minute of us all being together & loving on her, she opened her gifts and cards with care and enthusiasm. She was celebrated and we were there just for her. As a mom, her sitting fee was complimentary that day...as was mine. You see, the store manager who was assisting us that day asked how many mom's were in our party, we said one and pointed to my mom. She looked at me and asked if I was a mom and almost without even trying I sort of put my head down as if I was looking for something and said, "oh, no" with a small smile. She asked if I was married to which I replied yes. "Well, you'll be a mom some day" and she gave me my sitting fee for free as well.

Again, my heart smiled.

Now, maybe I'm being overly spiritual about all of this, the strawberries and the sitting fee. But for me, it was almost like a prophetic day. Two amazingly simple gestures from two people, had such an impact on my little heart this mother's day. And as I chose to honor those around me rather than focus on the fact that I was not to honored yet as a mom, God honored my decision and commitment back. "You're like a mom still" and "You'll be a mom one day" spoke to my faith directly. They may not have know what they were doing in just trying to be nice, but my faith was built just a little more this mothers day. Love how God works.. :)