The Gift of my Mother In Law
Yesterday was my amazing mother in law’s birthday, happy birthday to her! I have been thinking about her often as I am raising my own sons, and her birthday became the perfect time for reflection. She comes to mind as I catch those brief wonders of what it will be like as they grow into men and how our relationship will evolve. As I reflect on the beauty of the mother son bond, and how our sons first look of feminine love is from us. (Which for now I’m perfectly content with!) Yet, those growing pain thoughts easily lead to thoughts of her - my husbands first home, my mother in law. The woman who most easily teaches me about the man I married - who’s opposite temperament of mine, exactly matches his. The woman who hand crafted the wreath hanging on our front door. The woman who homemade the Italian cookies displayed at our wedding table. The woman who bought the matching socks currently on my boys feet, something she seems to realize I am pretty bad at accounting for ;) The woman who opened her home for weeks during my 8 month pregnancy as we were building our house and without complaint provided meal after meal for us. The woman who has watched our sons on endless occasions, always ready with a new craft or gift to share with them. The woman who gave life to the man of my dreams. Her heart overflows with selfless love, how can her soul not be breathing into every corner of our home? To the school books on our kitchen table that sing her tribute, as one of the early homeschooling pioneers which instilled the deep faith running through my husbands veins; to the many photographs on our family tree. Her matriarchy is honored, and is such an example to me. Her beautiful legacy of 5 children (4 boys!), 7 grandchildren and a 40 year marriage. This is my husband’s first love. This is the gift of my mother in law.
Through the raising boys wildness, I try to constantly remind my boys, I want you to grow up being just like your daddy. I want you to watch how he is patient, hard-working, Christ-centered. Look at your dad, watch how he serves us! I tell them, (although unfortunately more often when he is not around, I’m working on that!) I pray for them to be sons like you, I tell him. And who is the woman to thank for forming this man of my dreams? My mother in law. The woman behind the scenes, planting seeds of faith in her little son, dedicating her life to her family and children. The woman (of course along with my own amazing mother!) who exemplified Mother Teresa’s advice, “Never forget, your job as a mother is the most important one in the whole world.” For her yes to that, I am forever grateful.
Dear Mother in law, every selfless act, every obstacle overcome, and every battle fought, has been completely worth it. The welcoming of me as a new daughter, and the forming of those new relationships are not easy tasks. Thank you for your life’s dedication to the most important job in the world, and for showing me the path to raising a faithful son. I pray for all mother/daughter in law relationships today and that we may have the courage to look at them with a new light as we raise our own sons. To love her, accept her, thank her and pray for her. They have given us such a gift. I pray we will grow deeper in appreciation, the further into parenting we get. Thank you for the gift of yourself, mother in law’s, and the gifts of giving us women our husbands. You teach us more than you could ever imagine! ;)
