A Mother's Profound Joy

A MOTHER'S PROFOUND JOY

A mother's profound joy
comes in tiny bundles
concealed in the smell of your hair,
the wonder in your eyes, your laughter---
so rich, so right.

When you eat what she cooks
she feels immense pleasure
in heaping unending servings of stew,
spaghetti, memories, lessons and love
you can always keep.

You have no idea
how she stares unblinking
as you lie in repose making snores--
never mind that she's tired of cleaning
after your own shadow.

A lisped prayer is to her ear
as a President's speech
filled with hope for the future-- no fear;
a nursery rhyme you sing in play is as
Pavarotti's poignant aria.

Stories of you go on and on...
and on with no end,
told without beginning to anyone, who
cares (and dares) to listen, and a photo
becomes two million

On Facebook, Instagram
and on her beloved iPhone.
Seeing you with good books and friends,
however, fills her with gladness: you
won't be bored ever.

Even without recognition,
she glows with your B,
she's seen your struggles and efforts,
saw your grit, then your kindness
despite all tough.

A mother's profound joy
is in living grateful
confident in the Ultimate Parent's love--
your heart in His and your hand in hers.
That joy is you.

Copyright © 2017 zernahfaith



* Lately I have been very distracted. Blame it on the words that just seem to float out of nowhere and bother me until it gets down on paper. (I've developed a tic on one eye because of it. Like this 😉 ) So here it is in blog form. The other poems will follow right after I'm done with preparing dinner here. 

The words came as I tried to force myself to nap--- even for just 15 minutes, please--- lying beside my sleeping pre-schooler. As usual, the nap didn't  happen, the poem did, fueled at the joy, every mother knows, when one is holding her child (and smelling her/his head). Once again, I'm thankful to God for gifts and the joy of pursuing them.

Have a wonderful day!




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Misha is all for fun.

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Proverbs 20:11

A few days ago, I could almost smell summer in the air: bright sunshine, sweat, bicycle oil. Then two nights ago a snowstorm came bringing with it loads and loads of snow... and beautiful snowflakes spiraling in the air in the morning. And no electricity.

As school was cancelled, I was left with four kids without the help of modern devices. What to do?
I watched.

I watched the snowflakes. Beautiful, intricate in all it's design, then read about it. Fascinating.

I watched the kids in each of their own beautiful personalities trying to combat boredom in their own special way (as God has made them). Then blog about it. Extremely fascinating.

I looked like I was reading, but with all the activity going on, how can one even concentrate? This momma is on to another study, one that has begun since I had child #1. My lab goes like this...

Who Is Like God? (Happy birthday, my Little Captain!)

I write to you, my son, because there are some things I just don't want to say but I also want you to remember.

Foremost is, God.

"You have searched me, Lord, and you know me" (Psalm 139:1).

I became a mother when I was gifted with you. That was ten years ago. I was uninitiated in motherhood and in life. But God in His wisdom gave me you. And in having you, I longed, bordering on desperation, to "know" Him, really know Him. I didn't know then that He would take me on a long journey. One that was unforgettable and replete with deep knowing of Him.

My son, in your vulnerability and helplessness, I found God's strength as I fiercely tried to protect and care for you. In Him, I see One who Protects those who are weak, vulnerable and are dependent on Him.

7 Tips for a Joy-filled Parenting

"Good morning, Mom!"

Startled, I woke up from a deep sleep. I groaned. I still wanted to sleep, so I ignored the cheery voice, which was too cheery for a Saturday morning. Why can't I get an extra hour of sleep today like everyone does before my day starts and ends again at 12:00 midnight?

The childish voice came again, "Good morning, Mom! Wake up!" So I replied, "Mama is still sleepy. Please lie down again," trying to sound as sleepy as I could.

"Mama, wake up," the 'little dawn' shines, more insistently this time. So I rolled out of bed, head pounding and scooped my little toddler out of her crib (still didn't get to moving her to a toddler bed, no budget yet) and towards her potty. She held her arms wide open, ready to hug me tight, with a huge, bright smile on her face. I couldn't help but smile back and whisper, "Good morning, Roxy," as her little arms embraced the whole of my heart.

My day has officially began.

10 Things I Love About Being a Mom

My precious-es!

I am a mother of four and it can get overwhelming at times. From the moment I wake up to the time I can finally rest I am constantly barraged by small bodies with cute voices, their questions and curiosities and the never-ending tasks that go along with raising them. But as we all know, children come with, not only a huge responsibility, but also with loads and loads of joy. Life has never been better than when I became a mom. I know I had great times before my little ones came, but I can't remember now what it was like without them. Here are some of the things I really would have missed if I'm not a mom... and for which I am very thankful to God.

1. Smothered in sloppy wet kisses and tight happy hugs. Children just can't get enough of kisses and hugs. And neither can I. Having four, I often run out of time just doing these and even that is not enough. I'm not complaining. It's simply the best part of being a parent. All the hard work is forgotten with just a smile, a kiss or a hug from my children.

Train Up a Child

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

With all the profusion of parenting advices (and seeming, experts), this is still the best parenting advice. Ever. It's not only an advice, but it's almost up there with the other commandments, especially for parents and guardians. It is so important, that any parent who misses this will probably miss their child for life. I mean this to say that if this is the only thing that parents know about parenting, then they are on to something that is absolutely right.

Walking with the Ultimate Parent

I love walking. It's one of my happy things to do. And I like that walking is often the most used metaphor of life.

Today, I went walking with my three year old daughter. We went to the city park, which is just a few minutes walk from where we live.

We followed a less trodden dirt path with no idea where it was leading. The ground was a bit mushy from yesterday's rain, but we continued on that path for I know it'd do us some good to go on some tiny bit of adventure even if it's just in walking. So it was with much excitement that I welcomed the idea of going into a forest when we entered some sort of wooded area. It was dark and the scent of musk permeates the air. As we walked under the trees, I barely noticed the muddy ground where we were walking and my now-very-dirty sneakers. I had my senses on the green, lofty, sun-dappled trees swaying in the breeze. I could even see glistening cystal-like dewdrops on some of the leaves. It was so enchanting and I was highly fascinated. I couldn't keep my eyes off from what was around me.

Connected

I am raising three children, all gifts from God to me and my husband. I have never expected to be quite so 'blessed' and everyday I always thank God for them. Each of them are special and bring joy to our home in their own unique way. 

It is my goal to raise successful adult Christians, and success for me means that they are loving, compassionate, gentle, persistent, temperate, joyful, peaceful, faithful, and good man and women. I understand that they are right now in the process of growing up, so I don't expect perfection from them. Not only that, they are their own person and may have different ways of 'being', contrary to the way I do of 'being' me but harmonious to the way they are, as God has made them. Nevertheless, what does a parent like me do? How am I to raise my children into good Christian adults?

Waiting on the Ultimate Parent

Oh, to be patient! It would solve most of my life's problems. I would be the best mom that ever walked on this earth, the sweetest wife that mankind has ever known, scores of people will be my friend and will stay to be my friend.

Patience is a virtue that is needed, oh, so needed by everybody in this world. Sadly, however, I lack it. I often find myself saying to my kids and students, "Be careful." Then in the next breath I would say, "Hurry up!" Worst, I kept stopping myself from automatically demanding several times a day "Hurry up", when I just said, "Go slowly" or "Write slowly". I really sound like that familiar sentiment, "Lord, give me patience, and give it to me now!" I am an oxymoron personified.

I was four months pregnant and living with my family on the fourth floor of a building. Whenever my 19-month old son and I would go out, I had to carry him down flights of stairs on my hip supported by one arm while the other arm had to carry a heavy stroller that weighed like it was made of pure iron. There was no elevator on that building. After carrying my son and dragging the stroller in my preggy condition on the stairs, my arm would become so tired that I was afraid I would either drop my son or we'd tumble down the stairs. So I would decide to stop.

I could not continue on on that kind of laborious activity. With only one short set of stairs to tackle before reaching the bottom, I had to decide whether to bring the stroller down first, or my son on those steps. If I bring the stroller down first, my son would be left at the top of the stairs, with the possibility of him trying those steps himself. My hands won't be available to catch him as they would be busy carrying the stroller. That would be disastrous. If I carry my son first, then it would be dangerous for on one side was the open door with plenty of possibilities for my son to explore and on the other side was another flight of stairs going to a dark basement.

Most of the time I would carry him down the stairs, but at times, I would leave him at the top. But one thing for sure that I would do was to talk to him, asking him to wait on me. Even at his young age I would instruct him of what he needs to do and what I have to do. There was no other way. So I would tell him that I needed to bring the stroller down and that I would need his help. I would ask him to wait for me with his back on the wall and to stay exactly where he was. I had to repeat it many times until I could see that he understood what he was asked to do and that I was sure that he would do it. To my great relief and satisfaction as a mother, he did wait on me ALL the time.

I wonder if God asks us to wait on Him for He knows exactly the danger that is around us, just as I knew what would happen if my son would step towards that open door or those stairs that lead to the basement. I knew that beyond that open door were not only possibilities of exploration and discoveries that my son was so excited about, but there was also danger. And down at the bottom of the stairs of the basement, with broken a leg or something, was not where I wanted him to be. I had great plans of where I wanted to take my child for an outing. I wanted him to be able to enjoy the day with me, safe and happy. That is exactly what God wants for us. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:10-12. Our Ultimate Parent wants us to wait on Him and to enjoy the great plans He has for us.

Just as I know that my son's development is not mature enough to tackle that open door, its dangers and possibilities, and those steps and the dark basement below; my Ultimate Parent also knows when I am ready enough to take on challenges. We are not mass-produced in a factory with identical experiences and growth. Rather, we are made uniquely and our experiences, learning and growth are tailor-made just for us, for our optimal development. God made us, and He knows exactly what we need to grow and be happy. He wants us to wait on Him. He knows best. He wants what is best for us. At times it may not be what we want, still we wait on Him, trusting that He knows what He is doing. In waiting, we develop patience, we develop strength of character, we develop an intimate relationship with our Ultimate Parent, we become strong in Him.

"They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings as eagles, they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint." Teach me, Lord, to wait.

Learning from the Ultimate Parent

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." 2 Peter 3:18
 
Since becoming a parent, I have been in awe of the power that parents have over their children. The power to make them or break them, to fashion them into society's best or cursed,  and to affect their lives and the way they live them. That, I would say, is a power akin to playing God. This power gives us the audacity to wield control and to determine the destiny of a human being. That, would make any person nervous and question his abilities and qualifications.

Who, in this world, is qualified to to be a parent? Who has the academic qualifications, the experience, the skills to parent?