To: Mommy

“Mommy! Charlotte has her hand in the toilet!” “Eva, please remove Charlotte’s hand from the toilet bowl water.”

I stepped outside to put the dogs in their kennels before leaving the house. Without even seeing the situation on the inside, I knew exactly where my girls were and what was happening.

How does a mother do it? We are cooking supper, yet we can holler to the other room, “DO NOT walk across that carpet with your shoes on!” Switching a load of clothes, we voice, “Don’t stop on the way to the bath. Keep going.” Changing the linens, we hear silent noises in the kitchen, and we declare, “Shut those cabinets, girls, no snacks right now!” Running the vacuum, we yell out, “Go put all those rags back under the sink! I just folded and put those away. They are not going to be used as surgical bandages!”

The other day I received a note from Eva. She has just begun learning how to write. She wrote the words exactly like they sounded. To my surprise, I was able to decipher what she had written. To conclude, it was an apology for something she had done along with an I love you, Mommy.

There are treasures, and then there are treasures. I asked Eva if I might keep the letter forever? She beamed a satisfied “yes” in my direction.

I tucked the note into my nightstand drawer for safekeeping- and frequent gazing.

As mothers, we see much activity. Our eyes are busy roaming for needs, tasks, dangers, assignments, and hugs all day long. But nothing is as precious as those articles our children make for us.

In case life has caused you to forget the wonders that dance before your eyes, I wrote something for all the mothers who are looking, searching for their sight- it’s right in front of you…

What a Mother Sees

A cook sees a meal to grace the family table.

A baker sees a recipe box full of homemade perfection.

A singer sees a song in the folding and the dusting.

A lawyer sees a case between the sibling’s waring cries.

A judge sees a verdict, the children’s opinion notwithstanding.

A mechanic sees potential in squeaky training wheels.

A plumber sees her handiwork with toy kitchen sinks.

A carpenter sees flower boxes where their tiny seeds will grow.

A secretary sees Post-Its no longer available for her quick thoughts.

A reporter sees her headline to share when he pulls in.

A manager sees direction in the evening chore assignments.

A writer sees a story written on the walls.

A librarian sees a setting that holds her babies captive.

A preacher sees the sermon that must be proclaimed.

A teacher sees a lesson burning in the scrapes.

So what does a mother see?

A mother is all of these.

She sees everything.

Kristen Howard

When I am old and gray, I want to reach down, open the drawer and pull out the treasures from my nightstand. My eyes will see what only a mother could see. A handwritten note- To: Mommy.

Welcome Home

“See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand.” Galatians 6:11

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