A Mother's Day Poem

This Verbal Tribute We Now Raise
M. Justin Wainscott

For my wife, Anna, on behalf of our children
Mother’s Day 2013

For all the toil and all the tears,
For countless pray’rs and list’ning ears,
For ev’ry long and sleepless night,
For finding joy in our delight;
For words of wisdom that you share,
For all the hats you’re made to wear,
For sacrificing time and health,
For always giving of yourself;
For ev’ry burden that you bear,
For all the ways you show you care,
For ev’ry kind and thoughtful deed,
For all you do that we don’t see;
For untold blessings still in store,
For all these things and so much more,
We find it hard to rightly show
The love you’re due, the thanks we owe.
So as an effort of our praise,
This verbal tribute we now raise.
It’s so much less than you deserve,
This meager monument of words,
But here it stands to honor you,
A symbol of our gratitude,
A way for us to somehow say:
We thank you, Mom, this Mother’s Day!

Mother's Day Poem

Motherhood Briefly Summarized
Justin Wainscott, Copyright 2012

For my wife, Anna, on Mother's Day

Anticipation...experienced.
Pain...endured.
Sacrifices...made
Sleep...lost.
Diapers...changed.
Clothes...washed.
Meals...prepared.
Laughter...shared.
Tears...shed.
Medicine...administered.
Band-aids...applied.
Hugs...enjoyed.
Kisses...given.
Worry...felt.
Stories...told.
Truth...taught.
Books...read.
Hymns...sung.
Prayers...offered.
Example...set.
Nurture...provided.
Love...demonstrated.
Joy...known.
Husband...grateful.
Children...blessed.

Excellent Article For Young Mothers

The recent 9Marks eJournal is devoted entirely to the topic of "Pastoring Women" (and I would recommend all the articles to pastors and church staff members). But I would especially encourage every young mother to read Jani Ortlund's article, "For the Young Mother: Ministry, Guilt, and Seasons of Life." Here's an excerpt:

Mothering calls for the best in us as women. As mothers, we shape the souls of our children and ultimately influence the world. Children are our gift to the future. So accept your calling from God to serve your family. It is not godly guilt that would call you away from a wholehearted investment in your little ones for his sake. Don’t feel guilty over making your children your primary ministry investment when they are young. You are teaching the younger generation to form intimate emotional bonds with others. Your sensitivity, availability, devotion, affection, and unhurried attention are irreplaceable.

...Are you discouraged as you spend day after day immersed in the mundane tasks of mothering? Then think of the honor of guiding the spiritual and intellectual and social development of young minds and hearts. Think of the thrill of teaching them eternal truths from God’s Word. Think of the importance of teaching your young children how to live under authority, and of preparing them for future relationships by teaching them about love and trust. Think of the delight of sending one more godly, vibrant, strong, secure, loving young person into this needy world with the courage to live well for Christ’s sake. What a worthy investment!

Read the entire article here.