Tears in her eyes

The other day I had taken my three ring circus out and about to run some errands. Wanting to get things done I had delayed our lunch until I was Very Hungry. (not really a good thing) I pulled in to a local fast food establishment because it was fast and easy and cheap, and I knew all the boys would eat something. We got our lunch and sat down in a crowded restaurant. We were near an older couple who kept looking over and smiling, and seemed to be enjoying the antics of my small brood. We finished our meal in record time and cleaned up to go play at the indoor playground. Perhaps I looked as exhausted as I felt, perhaps some exasperation crept into my voice as I tried to inhale my lunch while tending to the "needs" of three little boys....I don't know why, but a few moments later I was holding a tired baby watching the boys run and have fun with this small older woman came up to me and tapped me on my shoulder. I turned to look at her, and she stood there with tears in her eyes. She told me I had beautiful children. She told me that she had three boys and one girl all grown with families of their own. She told me that what I was doing was so worth it. She repeated that several times. "What you are doing is worth it" "this is the best thing you can be doing" "raising children is hard and thankless, and goes so quickly, but it is so worth it" She had to stop a few times to blink back some tears. I had tears welling in my eyes. I couldn't even say anything to her over the huge lump in my throat. This encounter was over in a few seconds, she walked quietly away wiping her eyes, I turned back to cheer on my climbing boys wiping my own eyes.

Wow! God sent a powerful message to me. All us mothers may doubt the time we spend rocking sick babies, referring disagreements over toys, the mundane ins and outs of staying at home with little ones. God see's our hard work, and sometimes, if you are lucky, someone else see's them too. Even though you don't hear it enough...it is so worth it! Thank you mommies. God bless.