I imagine the word “Mother” evokes different emotions for all. There may be fond or painful memories attached to the title--a sense of loss, a longing, or even an indifference. I am so fortunate to have an incredible mother who inspires and challenges me to be better and more like Christ by the way she lives and who has also become one of my best friends. I am constantly amazed and humbled by how she still finds ways to serve my sisters and I as we are raising our own families. When we had our family business, she also became a stand-in mother to several of our employees, many of whom were going through major life events or hardships. Years after she is done raising her own children, she still finds ways to be used in that capacity and is beloved by all who know her.
My own journey to motherhood definitely looked different than I expected. As one who has experienced two pregnancy losses, I know the sting and weight of that grief, how magnified everyone else’s joy in motherhood can feel when you are experiencing such great sorrow. When I was in that season, many friends who had experienced a similar loss were such a great comfort to me. It was a sisterhood none of us wanted to be a part of, but I was grateful for others who had gone before me, who could point me to Jesus and show me the importance of grieving when and how I needed.
I am beyond blessed to now have two babes in my arms. My prayer as I am in the beauty and exhaustion of their early years is to be present and patient. I want to be used in all of my mess to point them to Him, even if it’s through me apologizing to them after a quick temper (literally had to apologize to them hours after originally writing this) or for not being fully present. I have sisters and friends walking alongside me with littles, as well as some navigating different stages of motherhood with teenagers and young adults heading to college. I am constantly seeking out wisdom about things that worked in their early years and asking them to take notes on what is ahead. In a time where it is easy to compare myself to others, I would rather recognize my weaknesses and that I can learn from the women around me.
Motherhood can often feel isolated and tiring. Surrounding ourselves with other women, whether they are in the same season of motherhood or ahead of us, is life giving.
I am thankful for the many women who have poured into me over the years and that we were not meant to be on this journey of motherhood alone. Without them, I certainly know that my life would not have been nearly as rich and beautiful.
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Elizabeth Fleming is a wife and proud momma. She loves cooking, going on adventures with her husband, and is unashamedly obsessed with her children and their adorable cousins.