“Five months ago this sweet girl of mine helped carry me through a difficult time. As a mom, I’ve always tried to teach my kids the joy of service and the value of giving. Whether it was picking food from our garden to share with our neighbors or helping an elderly woman carry her groceries to her car, I hoped the lessons would sink in... But as with so many things in motherhood, the fruits of our labors aren’t often immediately visible. When my health took a scary turn earlier this year, my 16-year old daughter became my home-nurse, my chauffeur to appointments, and my support while my husband was away. Moments with her, in the quiet hours of the night as she selflessly served me, were all the confirmation I needed that those early lessons in service—lessons I thought went unnoticed—had not gone to waste. *Far* from it.
I’m here to tell you, sweet mama, that those tiny, seemingly insignificant moments matter. And not just the planned opportunities but the mundane acts of service they’ve watched you, as their mother, give them throughout their whole lives. These moments are noticed. They’re absorbed. They’re written on our children’s hearts even if we don’t see it right away. My children? They cared for me as I’ve cared for them. And I believe that someday, all of our children will pass this same gift on to the people around them. Carry on, mamas. It’s worth it.”- @rebecca_simpleasthat