To whom much is given, much is expected

When I was pregnant with Madeline, I remember a lady at church saying, "Get ready to experience a love you've never known before." I thought she was overreacting. Maybe just a teeny bit dramatic. I loved lots of people already -- my parents, my husband, my family, my friends. I smiled and said something about how excited I was for my baby's arrival, but always remembered that moment. It stuck out in my mind.

She was right.


From the first time I held Madeline in my arms, I knew she was mine to love and protect forever. My precious little bundle. A true gift from God. The saying "the miracle of life" became real to me. I loved Madeline more in one instant than it seemed that I had loved anyone my whole life.


It's funny how that love for my daughter has spilled over to all of my other relationships. It seems like I love them all more, too. Just because I know the love between a mother and her child. I understand my own parents more. And I understand my friends and family who are parents more. When I see Madeline giggle and "wrestle" with Daddy, I feel it. When I see her grandparents' faces light up when she walks in the room, I feel it. When I see her cousins so excited to play Star Wars with her, I feel it. She's brought a lot of love and joy to my life.


That's not to say that it's all been lovey-dovey, hunky-dory. Oh no. There have been some ugly moments, too. The sleepless newborn nights, doubts and second-guessing, excessive spitting-up, feeling like a failure at breastfeeding, arguments over parenting, temper tantrums, time-outs, and more.

But I wouldn't trade any of it. I'd keep all the junk. The love is so worth it.


Being a mom has brought me more joy than I've ever known before.

So Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, sisters, aunts, grandmas, fur-moms, step-moms, and like-a-moms out there. I pray that you feel the love, too.