Friday, May 6, 2011

Motherhood Should Come With...

I am joining Gypsy Mama and her five minute Fridays today.

The prompt is Motherhood Should Come With.

Here I go...

Motherhood should come with diet coke, diet coke, and more diet coke--morning, afternoon, and evening.  Diet coke that miraculously doesn't make it through to your milk, I mean. 

Motherhood should come with pants that hide that aftermath of nine months of growing a human being.  Or maybe, motherhood should come with a pass to be oblivious to how our bodies look after the fact. 

Motherhood should come with a guarantee that there will be a moment, everyday, when I can slip out the door and run, uninterrupted, for at least 30 minutes.  A chance to sweat out all the frustration that wants to come out in a voice so ugly it hurts my own ears, not to mention the ears of the ones intended to receive it.

 It should come with an understanding that I will never, ever be the same woman that I was before that positive sign showed up on that stick, that crazy afternoon, alone in that bathroom in my midtown apartment, only six months this side of marriage.  I cried because I knew that something much, much bigger than me had taken over my life, and God was going to destroy my idol of control over and over and over again, until it was gone for good. 

And I cried when I saw that tiny baby Ada, and I knew that the loss of the before life was absolutely worth it for the chance to play a part in this mystery known as raising a human being. 

I am so glad that motherhood does come with the promise of Grace.  With the promise of one who loves these children in such a way that he will save them from me, their own mother.  Motherhood comes with the promise that I don't have to fear all the ways that I will mess this thing up a  million times before it's all said and done, because He chose me, before the foundations of the world, to raise these precious children.  And this grace, all that it asks, it provides.

Okay, that's it, my first five minute Friday.  If you want to join in, just head over here....

and I'll end with a glimpse at motherhood on this day





That's our ottoman, by the way.  Meant to store blankets, not children.

4 comments:

The Farmer Files said...

I loved your post...as I sit here drinking my 3rd Diet Coke of the day. I usually only have one. But I am having a THREE Diet Coke day. Oh...and I am all about the post partum pants. Today I bought some awesome shape wear for a dress I have to wear to a fancy shmancy thing tomorrow night!

Jessica said...

this is great Laura Beth! I'm gonna have to check it out..I love me some writing prompts! haha. Loved your post. So good, except I'll exchange the Diet Coke for a Coke! haha.

Ann said...

That was such a great post, LB! It made me choke up. I really might copy and paste part of it to show off what a great writer you are and also how you put certain aspects of motherhood so well. And LOVE the ottoman pictures. Sorry your rash situation is so ongoing. I forgot to mention that the other day as I rambled on about my (minor) problems.

Esther Bratton said...

GREAT post! I'm with ya on the pants and I would add to that a special bra :) you are an awesome writer and I am continually amazed for your and Ann's wisdom and perseverance in child rearing! Thanks for sharing and praying for the rash issue.