3/15/2024
The Power Of A MamaI looked into my daughter’s eyes. They were scared and filled with tears, desperately looking for answers. They were crying “Please help me.” without saying a word. And 30 years flashed by in that moment…
I saw her tiny eyes when they opened for the very first time. They called me “Mama”, without saying a word. I saw her tiny, 2 year old eyes when I joined the other mamas at the church nursery door. With relief they cried, “There you are mama.” without saying a word. I saw her tiny, 4 year old eyes in pain when she broke her collar bone. They cried “Please take away this pain.” without saying a word. I saw her little, 5 year old eyes hold on to mine as she left for her first day of school. They cried “I will miss you so much.” without saying a word. I saw her little, 7 year old eyes on the platform during the spring concert. They searched for me among a sea of faces in the school auditorium. When they found me they smiled and said, “I’m so glad you’re here.” without saying a word. I saw her big girl, 15 year old eyes on the basketball court when she made that shot. They turned to see if I saw, and when they locked with mine I cried, “I’m so proud of you.” without saying a word. I saw her big girl, 18 year old eyes filled with tears as we said goodbye in front of her dormitory. I could not speak for the lump in my throat, my eyes cried “It’s too soon. I’m not ready. There’s so much more I need to teach you, but you will do amazing and I will miss you more than you will ever know.”, without ever saying a word. I saw her adult eyes filled with happiness when she walked down that aisle. They caught mine and my heart cried, “God is answering my prayers today, even though I wish you could stay my little girl a little longer.” But my eyes reflected her happiness, without saying a word. When she held her newborn for the very first time, I saw her mama eyes. Her heart smiled through them and when they caught mine I cried, “How can this be? My baby had a baby.” and my own heart filled with unexplainable love, without saying a word. But then, I saw her scared, confused sorrow filled eyes as they pleaded for help, and the tears spilled down her cheeks. And the “hard” hit like it never has before. I held her. And I let those eyes cry. I didn’t have the answers. I couldn’t take the “hard” away. And when she looked into my eyes, I wiped her tears away and cried “I will always, always be here for you. I may not always have the answers, but I will hold you, and pray for you, and love you forever.” without ever saying a word. Oh mama. Those eyes are always searching for yours. On days when you don’t feel like you measure up. On days when you feel like you blew it. On days when you don’t have the answers for the hard questions. Those eyes will still look for yours. They need you and they will always look for yours. Because you are mama. I have verbally said all of these things to my children, but sometimes our children don’t need answers, they just need our presence. Your presence holds the very essence of what a mama is. When they look into your eyes, make sure that’s what they see. Strength, guidance, nurturing and loyalty. Protection, pride, comfort and unconditional love. In the pain, in the background, in the crowd, in the big steps and small ones, in the heartache and the happiness. As long as you are alive, even in their old age~be present. Because your presence says it all, without ever saying a word. That’s the power of a mama. “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?” Isaiah 49:15 “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.” Isaiah 66:13 |
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