Lysa TerKeurst – Defining motherhood

Before I had kids I would have defined motherhood this way:

A time when you have little people to care for. They are always cute and smiley and make you look good. It is great bliss to feed them, hold them, dress them in bows, and call them your very own.

When my kids were little I would have defined motherhood in a slightly less romantic way:

A time when you feel so sleep deprived that you wonder if you’ll ever feel normal again. The reality that kids don’t always act cute, smiley and in ways that make you look good has begun to rock your world slightly. Instead of using bliss to describe the act of feeding and dressing them, you now use messy. But you are still so happy to call them your own.

Now that most of my kids are teenagers I define motherhood in the most realistic way of all:

A time where one learns the graceful art of not freaking out though everything in her being tells her this is exactly what she should do. It is no longer blissful or messy to feed and clothe them… a more appropriate word would be expensive. As far as calling them my own, it just simply depends on what day you ask.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love having teenagers. I consider it a great honor and privilege to be the one to help them navigate the sometimes tumultuous waters of these years. I pray for them daily. I especially pray for them to get caught every time they do something they shouldn’t.

We have gotten a few answered prayers around here lately… if you catch my drift.

Anyone know of any land for sale out in the middle of Montana somewhere?

Lysa

54 Comments

54 Responses to “Defining motherhood”

tannia Says:
July 12th, 2010 at 8:41 pm

I pray that someday God blesses me with the gift of motherhood and wifedom. Until then I pray that God fulfill my life and that he become my husband and best friend. But I must admit, at 32 and going through a divorce, I sometimes worry that these two things will not be a part of my life. Only God knows what his intentions for my life are and all i can do is trust that his plans for me, with or without a family of my own will be for my best interest.

Giselle Says:
July 7th, 2010 at 4:59 pm

Funny you should ask for questions. I was thinking about one while reading a recent submission:
Is your mother still alive?
What is your relationship like with her?

Anna Says:
July 3rd, 2010 at 4:04 pm

Lysa~

You, my dear sister in Christ, have captured my heart by allowing God to use your thoughts, pen and paper. A friend told me about Proverbs 31 ministries, so I subscribed to the weekly e-mails and yours always hit me where I was. Since January I have read a few of your books and each one was ME–scary. God has allowed me to be stretched and changed. He has called me to go and do things that I would never do, and honestly sometimes don’t want to do because it is beyond me and my comfort zone. Yet, I love Him and I want my life to reflect that obedience despite my feelings. Thank you for writing His convictions and sharing your testimony. It would be a delight to meet you or attend one of your conferences one day, but until then sister I am enjoying your writings that point to our Father and the love that He has for us.

Blessed!