The right word spoken at the right time is as beautiful as gold apples in a silver bowl. Proverbs 25:11
It was over 7 years ago; our first child was two years old and our second was about two months old. I had the brave idea to take them both to the splash park in the summer by myself. My husband had gone back to work after a brief parental leave, so it was just me and the children. I loaded them into the car and off we went on our merry way.
When we got there, I strapped the baby onto me in the baby carrier as I lead his sister all through the splash park. It was fun and she was having a blast but for children that age they need an adult every step of the way to help her up the steps, to help navigate anything that was too high for her to come down from and basically to hold her hand so she does not trip over her own feet, all while carrying a two-month-old baby and as my body continued to recover from pregnancy and giving birth.
For anyone who has been in a similar situation, you know that it gets tiring and draining quickly. I was trying to keep a positive attitude, telling myself that at least I’m getting a workout in. Oh, did I mention that my I was getting sore and engorged because the baby needed to be breast fed?
In the midst of all this, I spotted a delightful scene out of the corner of my eye. Over to the side in the grass was this mom. She was reclining on a blanket, surrounded by snacks and reading a book. How relaxed she was, juxtaposed against my full hands and chaotic state. Our eyes met for a brief moment as she looked up from her book and smiled at me. Usually when this happens, the other person will just smile or nod to acknowledge you then get back to their business, but when our eyes made contact, she spoke directly to me and said don’t worry this will be you in a couple of years when your children are older and more independent. You will be able to relax, enjoy a good book while eating snacks and watching them from a safe. This is just a season, soon your children will grow, be responsible and self-sufficient, then you will be me.
I know she could see it in my eyes as I looked at her longingly thinking wow, it must be nice to be so relaxed. Our conversation, or to put it more accurately, her encouragement did not last up to even three minutes. But the effects of what she said to me reverberated through my early motherhood journey.
Those few words that a random mom who did not know me and who I have never met again since, carried me through tough seasons that moms of little ones experience. Whenever I felt overwhelmed, I recalled that conversation and it encouraged me to know that this is just a season I’m passing through so I will do my best to enjoy these years. Give it your best, let them enjoy there day as best you know how. DO things that they find fun like running in the grass, playing at the splash park or putting on rain boots and stumping through puddles. I have heard it been said that the days may be long, but the years are short. This is so true. The few minutes that this kind Mom took to speak into my life from experience and encourage me with those few words; I do not know if she fully understood the gravity that they would have in my life and the ripple effect of her one act of kindness.
I still remember every word she spoke to me. Even though it was over 7 years ago, I remember it like it was yesterday. That is how profound her words were to me and I held on to them for those years that my children were little whenever I felt overwhelmed, I remembered her words and that encouraged me greatly. So, whenever you have a chance to encourage another Mom from your experience, do it! The conversation does not have to be long, it could only be just a minute or two but it will literally hold that Mom up front for those more challenging years. It will mean so much to her just like it did to me so please do not hold yourself back whenever you feel the need to speak words of encouragement. And it does not have to only be to people that you know. This woman did not know me but she recognized something familiar in me. She remembered how it was being with such little children by yourself the physical, emotional and mental toll that comes with it. Yes, children are a gift from the Lord and yes, you are being intentional about enjoying this blessing but that does not take away from the fact that it does get overwhelming at times but guess what that is not where the story ends. The children will grow up, they will be more self-sufficient, and you will have more time to relax, sit back and just watch from a safe distance.
Our words have power so speak life and encouragement. Let somebody know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Encourage every mom you see in the trenches and let her know that she will not always be in the trenches of running after little children. They will grow, they will be more self-sufficient, and you will have more time to sit back watching them from a safe distance with gratitude that you were there for them when they were much little and needed you to hold their hand through the splash park.
A couple of days ago we were out with some moms from our homeschool community. The moms with toddlers had to hold their hands and literally follow them everywhere to make sure that they were safe, to help them up and down the slides and other structures while I was sitting in a corner with other moms of the older children that were more independent. We were sipping on our coffees and having casual light hearted conversation for the entire 3 hours as the children played a safe distance away, occasionally coming over to say hi or take a gulp of water. Oh my goodness! It dawned on me that I am that mom now! I’m now that relaxed mom I met at the splash park those years ago and she was right! That season of my motherhood journey has passed and I’m now in this new season.
I remember how encouraging it was when that mom told me that this is just a season and pretty soon I will be where she is and I took the opportunity to encourage them and I said this just a season, soon your children will be grown more independent and more self-sufficient and you will be me sitting down sipping on a cup of coffee as you watch them from a safe distance.
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Read more of Rachel’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
