Mother's of Young Children

When my son was small, I had this poem copied and printed, framed it, and put it by my bed. I'd like to share it with young moms. (If anyone knows the author's identity, please let me know so I can give credit.) No truer words about motherhood have EVER been written.


MY HANDS WERE BUSY

My hands were busy through the day.
I didn’t have much time to play.
The little games you asked to do,
I didn’t have much time for you.

I’d wash your clothes, I’d sew and cook,
but when you'd bring your picture book
and ask me, please, to share your fun,
I say "a little later, Son."

I’d tuck you in all safe at night,
and hear your prayers, turn out the light
then tiptoe softly by your door.
I wish I’d stayed a minute more.

For life is short, the years rush past,
A little boy grows up so fast.
No longer is he at your side,
his precious secrets to confide.

The picture books are put away,
there are no children's games to play.
No goodnight kiss, no prayers to hear.
That all belongs to yesteryear.

My hands, once busy, now lie still.
The days are long and hard to fill.
I wish I could go back and do
the little things you asked me to do.

Anonymous

My Life in a Nutshell

As I was looking over my profile page on my Facebook account this morning, I realized there were a lot of things about me missing. I haven't added any of my interests, favorite movies, TV shows, books, or anything else that makes me who I am. I have my mom listed as my mom, and I listed my brother, sister, husband and two kids, but what about Dad? Since he went to heaven last year, I'd forgotten to add him. So I corrected that, and then, to let people know where he was, I listed he was in heaven since May 2009.

I was thinking: so much is on that short list, yet it is basically my life in a nutshell. All the people I've loved, relationships, events, memories happy and sad...and it fit on the side of a facebook page.

When my son's dad died (Jim Brown), I remember the day I had to go down to his office and clean out his things. He'd worked for Mansfield City schools over 15 years--his entire working career, yet when his co-worker brought his things to my car, it all fit in two small boxes. I looked at those boxes and memories of late nights working from home to fix people's problems, the hours he spent trying to figure out what program had crashed and why, scheduling headaches, grade cards, valedictorians, and all the minute details computer managers handle flashed across my mind. All that work...all that frustration...and it fit into these two little card board boxes.

Someone told me that when a co-worker dies, over time, it's like a finger is dipped into a bucket of water and then removed: no evidence is left behind they were ever there.

This taught me something. Work is necessary and work is often fulfilling, but work is never as important as relationships. Relationships with co-workers, relationships with friends, family, and church family is most important. And relationship with God tops the list.

Life lessons can't be described in nutshells since they create who we are. I learned that day with the boxes how I should live with the people I love. How have you learned to put your relationships in proper order?