The Labor of Motherhood: When the Minutes Seem Like Hours
I delivered my firstborn son
12 years ago.
The labor pains
were intense
and the minutes
felt like hours as
I struggled with back labor.
Labor left me achingly tired
and emptied of all that
I possessed within me.
This emptiness helped me realize
that I was capable of things
that were beyond me.
There was strength
past the point where my strength ended
and my weakness began.
How is that possible?
I was so glad when my baby boy
was finally here
and the labor pains were over…
At least I thought they were over.
The labor pains haven’t really let up.
The stretching,
the growing
hasn’t stopped.
This is motherhood.
This is refinement,
this is purging,
this is letting go of what I should not hold to
and instead
clinging to what I must hold tight to.
Motherhood brings me to the end of myself –
to a place where my strength runs out
and weakness begins.
And it’s here that God meets me
bringing his strength.
It’s here where God works.
It’s here where he refines
and works to remove that
which doesn’t reflect him.
It’s here that I am capable of
things that are beyond me.
It’s here where wisdom meets me.
These labor pains of parenthood
mean that I am growing along with my kids.
Honestly, I don’t like it here.
It’s okay to say that.
Parenthood is hard.
I guess I thought if you were doing it
right it would be easy.
But the opposite is true.
Let’s not sugar coat it –
refinement isn’t fun and
it doesn’t always feel good –
but it is a pain that takes me
to where I need to be.
It remakes me.
Questions for Reflection
Great Piece! This is my first year of empty nest. I am a ‘stay at home’ mom ( who was never home..lol). Each phase is a stretch. When my three kids were little it was a complete physical labor and as they grew (to this day) it is a complete emotional labor – they go from a handful to a heartful. Now the choices they make have bigger impacts on their future, and my heart. But the mile stones are worth the race. Like Bethany says, we grow with them too. Each moment they have are still firsts for me as a mother. I am 50 and I wish that I had had access to communities like this during that time. I did have MOPS and church community, but the online resources are such a God send for mothers! Thank you Bethany for sharing your heart and Jennifer for your page.
Cheri Fletcher
Oh Cheri, thank you for that glimpse into your side of parenting now that the kids are grown. Your affirmation and support is so valuable to us in our stage of parenting! Blessings XOXO
A handful to a heartful…so very true, Cheri! I too, am so thankful for online resources such as, Practical Family! Thanks for reading and sharing your heart! I love how you are still experiencing firsts with your kids!