the gift of motherhood.

When you manage to pick up the house, vacuum, do yoga, fold and put away a load of laundry, jump in the shower (and write a blog post!) before the kiddo wakes up from her nap,

the gift of motherhood is efficiency.

When you find yourself sweeping up the 763rd cheerio from the kitchen floor, throwing away a half eaten crayon, collecting diapers from every corner of the house yet again, reluctantly reading the Farm Animals book for the 7th time today, or walking through Target with a screaming, goldfish-throwing, snot-flying-everywhere-child,

the gift of motherhood is patience.

When you bump your newborn's head on the head board and give her a nice goose egg, or snap at your family in frustration,

the gift of motherhood is grace.

When your baby girl takes a quick break from her intent focus on building a tall "ta-dew" (tower) and crawls up into your lap to give you a big hug, or says bye-bye "lah-ooh" (love you) before she goes to bed,

the gift of motherhood is a deeper understanding of The Father's love.

When your 1-year-old repeats the word "butt" over and over again after she hears someone say "let's kick butt", or she calls ALL animals "goggies", or you play pig pile on daddy,

the gift of motherhood is laughter.

When you say, "let's pray" and your daughter folds her hands together, or you ask her to go throw something in the garbage.....and she actually does, or she runs and squeals all the way to the garage door when her daddy gets home,

the gift of motherhood is joy.

When you have poop all over your shirt and are forced do a quick wash job in the bathroom sink at Round Table because you haven't been out of the house all week and you're not about to let a little poop stop you from sitting and enjoying a meal with your husband, or when said poopy child throws a tantrum in the check-out line,

the gift of motherhood is humility.

When you barely make it out the door in the morning with the diaper bag packed, realize that your favorite jeans are dirty but wear them anyways, leave your lunch in the fridge more often than not, have left-overs 3 times in 1 week, and in that same week come to the striking realization that your sweet baby is a walking-talking toddler,

the gift of motherhood is slowing down.

When every other week you get to sit around a table with moms and have adult conversations using complete sentences, and eat a meal without having to cut your food up into small pieces while your child is cared for by giving, loving women,

the gift of motherhood is peace.

When you get a text from a new mom that says, "I just have to share this friend...I pumped 6 oz today!!!" ...and you're totally and completely excited for her, sharing in the joy of all that precious, liquid gold,

the gift of motherhood is friendship.

When your husband tells you you look beautiful in yoga pants and a sweatshirt, with a baby resting on that nice shelf of a love handle you've got going on,

the gift of motherhood is love.

When you decide the floors can wait because your daughter wants to play catch with her new "bah" (ball), or you spend much of the afternoon helping her put on a different shoe every five minutes instead of finishing the laundry,

the gift of motherhood is insight.

Thank You, Jesus, for the gift of motherhood.