Elastigirl- almost

Never in my life have I experienced anything so personally stretching as motherhood. Everyday I am stretched to reach the demands that are placed on me by my children, my role as a homemaker and as a wife. Sometimes I am up for the challenge, other days I feel like I am completely falling short of what is needed from me. The demands on me are tangible and real. My daily road is long and weary. I knew having children would change my body shape, my outlook on life and my ability to choose things for myself. I didn't realize when I choose to become a mother that nearly every cell in my body was being donated to the cause and that I would feel as if I did not own my body anymore. My children demand my strength, my time, my thoughts, my hips, my arms, my breasts and hands and numerous other parts of me. They don't ask please when their tiny tummies groan with hunger, they don't ask please when they push my book aside as they climb on my lap with their own for me to read, and they don't ask please when they tug at my shirt/hand/leg so that I will look down at them when they excitedly tell me they found their "Cherry Lee" my little pony. They don't even think twice about what I might want or feel when they ask me to fulfill their every need. It is truly an exhausting thing to be a mother.

Today I had one of those days where every part of me was needed or wanted by somebody in my family. Everyone had their need and everyone had it filled. I was exhausted and worn - emotionally raw and mentally limited. I was frustrated that I didn't own my body anymore and that I couldn't do anything about it. After an emotional meltdown with a friend I was reminded that at one time the demands on Christ's body were great and that everyone who ever lived or ever would live had a demand on his body equalling great drops of blood from everyone of his pores. He willingly let others receive from Him what they could not do for themselves. He gave what was required of Him because He loved those he served.

It was a refining moment in my life as mother. Probably wont be the last time something like this happens and probably wont be the last time I need to be reminded of this great sacrifice that was done for me. I realized Christ knows all of my pains and sorrows and burdens and suffering achy parts. He knows what it feels like to have to sacrifice so much of yourself for the benefit of someone who cannot and may never understand or appreciate that sacrifice. He knows my tired road. Unlike Christ, I have not suffered all and my burdens are not as great. He gave without thought and out of love. His infinite example has once again strengthened me and given me what I so desperately needed. I layed my burdens at His feet today as I have many times before and saw in myself the eyes of my children as they look towards me for their strength.

Motherhood has given me the chance to give much of myself to my kids. I give them my hips, arms, breasts, strength, love, heart, smiles, hugs and numerous other parts of me. I have learned from a greater example that love governs my actions even if sometimes I don't feel like it does. I'm not anywhere near perfect - thank goodness for that- but I am perfectly aware that I am not in this alone.