Endurance

This summer, I fell in love with this piece of artwork on display in our town's municipal center art show.  

Of course, I loved that the local artist chose to depict the subject of Motherhood, but what really won me over was that she chose to title it "Endurance," showing that the artist really knows what it means to be a Mother.

I passed by this painting a lot this summer, and I thought about it and the title often.

When I look at this picture it reminds me that I am not merely a mom (as some might say), but I am a Woman on a Mission to lead my children safely through this life.  I am a guide, a leader.  I made a covenant before coming to earth that I would lead my family through this life and bring them home safely, No. Matter. What.

I have people depending on me to Endure.  So, Endure, I will.

Now when my children (one in particular!) nag me and try to wear me down to get me to say "yes" to something that I have previously decided is not good for them, I simply smile at them and think my magic word (Endurance!!) and I stand firm.  And I remind myself that I am doing what I said I would do.  I am taking my children through the storm.  They might hate it right now, but there will be time for thank you's  later! 

I had a moment with my oldest this morning where he was doing something without permission online before school (which is against our Family Media Plan). So, although it would be easier to shrug it off, I'm following through. I am enduring.  He didn't like my "enduring," but I assured him as I walked with him to the bus stop that even though his teachers don't care that he does these things, they don't care about him nearly as much as I do.  Because my love for him and my relationship with him will endure FOREVER.  I am his Mother.  I know what it best for him.  I will care about how he turns out and deal with the consequences of how he turns out...forever.  

Later, I received an email from him saying, "I'm sorry, Mom.  I love you."

When I received his email, I just happened to be reading "The Runaway Bunny" to my 2-year old.  I remember discovering this book and how much I loved it's message when Scarlett was in Kindergarten.  In the story, a young child bunny wants to run away, but every time the young bunny elaborates on some way he will run away, his Mother comes up with an answer for how she will orchestrate his return.

For instance, if he runs away, she will run after him (for you are my little bunny), if he becomes a fish and swims away, she will become a fisherman and fish for him.  If he becomes a rock, she will become a mountain-climber and she will climb to where he is.  If he becomes a boat, she will become the wind and blow him where she wants him to go...and on and on.

In short or rather in elaborate ways, she WILL endure.  She will go to where he is and always bring him home.  In particualr, she will always love him enough to go after him.

With this knowledge, the child bunny decides it's useless to try to run away, and stays home in the arms of those who love him.

While I'm not trying to get my children to stay home, I am trying to help them return to their Heavenly Home and hopefully my own love and guidance will be a great help to them in doing that.

That's all the time I have for that...there's much work to be done before my babies come home from school today.  Have a wonderful Monday and remember to ENDURE!

Some day, your children will thank you for it!