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| Motherhood: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Learning Contentment in Any and Every Situation by Mary DeMent Very early Monday morning, my oldest son called out for me. “Mommmm?” I recognized the tone, the subtle moan, the apprehension, but most of all, the urgency. “I’m coming!” I said, while throwing the covers off and carefully negotiating around our sleeping 3-year-old, who had inadvertently made his way to our bed at some point during the night. “Head for the bathroom!” I urged. Unfortunately, neither of us sprinted fast enough. The partially digested remains of dinner now covered my son, his bed, several portions of the floor and the bathmat. (Incidentally, did you know that hotdog chunks do not drain out of the washing machine?) This wasn’t the first sign of sickness in our home. Each of my four children experienced a roller coaster of symptoms, coming and going for more than a week. Fever, vomiting, then a return to normal. A second round was more than I could take. This “thing” that had held my family captive had overstayed its welcome. It was time for it to go! Off to the doctor we went. I thought my children behaved very well during the doctor’s appointment. Four children, a nurse and a mom in what felt like a 2-foot-by-2-foot room. However, after four exams, I joked that the nurse practitioner in “The Little Clinic” was going to hang her “Be Back Tomorrow” sign on the door as soon as we left! We all survived, but the end result yielded two cases of strep throat, two ear infections, four doses of antibiotics and a 2 ½-hour outing. On the drive home, I realized that despite everything, the sickness, the stressful doctor visit, the waiting for prescriptions to be filled, even removing hotdog chunks from the washer, I felt “on purpose.” I enjoy what I do, and I’ve never felt more content (okay, actually the hotdog chunks were just plain gross). I tried to explain this to my sweet son as he apologized for throwing up. “It’s okay,” I said. “This is what I do.” He strained to understand. “You mean you like cleaning up vomit?” I laughed, “No, I don’t particularly enjoy that,” I said. “However, I don’t mind it. It’s my job.” Motherhood. It’s my chosen field. And like all jobs, there is the good, the bad and the ugly. I hope my attitude reflects that of the apostle Paul, author of many portions of Scripture: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” (Philippians 4:12, NIV). In every situation. Be content, whether building sand castles at the beach or sweeping up broken dishes; whether sharing a picnic lunch or wiping a falling tear. When life gives you hotdog chunks, turn them into articles! As I told one young friend who enjoys spending time with my children, “It’s not all trips to the zoo!” Thankfully, it’s not all trips to “The Little Clinic” either! “Her children arise and call her blessed.” Mary DeMent is a freelance writer and stay-at-home mom. She lives in Orlando, Florida, with her husband, Bill, and their four young children. She holds a master’s degree in social work and writes devotionals and articles for Next Generation Institute, God’s Word for Today, LIVE! and the Faith Café. Her family prefers Ball Park franks, but they’ve been strangely absent from her grocery list lately. What is the biggest challenge you face in motherhood?| Top | Share Your Thoughts... Be the first to comment on this article! |
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