Today is the Tomorrow I Prayed About Yesterday

Today is the ‘tomorrow’ I prayed about, planned for and looked forward to yesterday.

As I often do, I quietly chanted a little verse from Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” And so I rejoice…for countless reasons; but today, one particular one stands out among the rest: Forty-five years ago, I became a mother when our first son was born and seventeen years ago, I became ‘Nana’ when our daughter had her son.

As I look back on my entrance into motherhood, I marvel at the privilege of being a parent. Never once did I consider NOT being a mother, and there is no doubt in my finite mind that, from childhood, God placed that desire in my innermost being.

In my childhood years, I created a ‘family’ of stuffed animals and raggedy old dolls, and even put clothes on our cocker spaniel, Suzie! I organized my mother’s pantry after a pretend day of grocery shopping and I played ‘house’ with or without my childhood friends. I nursed ‘sick’ dolls, and talked openly to my invisible ‘children,’ calling them by name. I was already a mother when I was eight years old!

Just two days ago, a very dear friend said to me that “parenthood doesn’t end when our children leave the ‘nest.’ It ends with our last breath.” I just nodded. Nothing profound in that statement, I though, just simply a statement loaded with love and commitment.

Happy birthday, Stewart. Happy birthday, Ben. My life is richer from having you both in it.