Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations. Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.
Poetry & Prose Cafe
Have you heard a poem or letter on The Morning Rush that you wish you had to read and cry over again? It's probably here...grab the tissue...and get ready to forward to all your friends.
Mother's Day Poem
Father's Day Poem - From a daughter to her father
As my father sees me, so shall I.
As a daughter, all my self-worth comes from how much my father values me.
The amount of affection he pays me as a child is what I will expect from a mate.
The respect he shows my mother will be what I will tolerate from a husband.
The time invested in me as a child will equal the amount of time I invest in him during his "golden years".
How he sees me in his eyes is how I will see myself. A little girl becomes exactly what her father says she is. In short, I will be the product of what you do and say around me, to me, and to others.
No compliment or blessing is any higher than that of my Daddy's. In short, how you see me is how I will be.
The least little comment, especially negative, I will take to heart.
You think the sun will rise and set with me, but without you, I have no world.
You are my daddy and little girls NEED their daddies.
“The Beauty of Holland” Author Unknown
When you’re going to have a baby, it’s like planning a fabulous vacation trip to Italty. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful vacation plans…the Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You learn some handy phrases in Italian. It’s all very, very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane arrives. The stewardess comes in and says, “Welcome to Holland.”
“Holland?!?” you say. “What do you mean Holland? I signed up for Italy! I’m supposed to be in Italy. All my life I’ve dreamed of going to Italy.” All my plans, packing and preparation were for Italy!!
But there has been a change in flight plans. They landed in Holland and there you must stay …forever. The important thing is that they haven’t taken you to a horrible place. It’s just a very different place.
So, you must go out and buy all new guidebooks. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you never have met.
It’s just a different place. It’s slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you’ve been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around…and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills…and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrants.
But everyone you know is coming and going from Italy…and they’re all bragging about what a wonderful time they have had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say, “Yes, that’s what I had planned, too.” And the pain of that will never go away…because the loss of that dream is a significant loss.
But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn’t go to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, very lovely thing about Holland.
The Brave Little Soul By John Alessi
Not too long ago in Heaven there was a little soul who tool wonder in observing the world. She especially enjoyed the love she saw there and often expressed this joy to God. One day however the little soul was sad, for on this day she saw suffering in the world. She approached God and sadly asked, “Why do bad things happen; why is there suffering in the world?” God paused for a moment and replied, “Little soul, do not be sad, for the suffering you see, unlocks the love in people’s hearts.” The little soul was confused. “What do you mean,” she asked.” God replied, “Have you not noticed the goodness and love that is the offspring of that suffering? Look at how people come together, drop their differences and show their love and compassion for those who suffer. All their other motivations disappear and they become motivated by love along.” The little soul began to understand and listened attentively as God continued, “The suffering soul unlocks the love in people’s hearts much like the sun and the rain unlock the flower within the seed. I created everyone with endless love in their heart, but unfortunately most people keep it locked up and hardly share it with anyone. They are afraid to let their love shine freely, because they are afraid of being hurt. But a suffering soul unlocks that love. I tell you this – it is the greatest miracle of all. Many souls have bravely chosen to go into the world and suffer – to unlock this love – to create this miracle – for the good of all humanity.”
Just then the little soul got a wonderful idea and could hardly contain herself. With her wings fluttering, bouncing up and down, the little soul excitedly replied, “I am brave; let me go! I would like to go into the world and suffer so that AI can unlock the goodness and love in people’s hearts! I want to create that miracle!” God smiled and said, “You are a brave soul I know, and thus I will grant your request. But even thought you are very brave you will not be able to do this alone. I have known since the beginning of time that you would ask for this and so I have carefully selected many souls to care for you on your journey. Those souls will help you create your miracle; however they will also share in your suffering. Two of these souls are most special and will care for you, help you and suffer along with you, far beyond the others. They have already hosen a name for you. God and the brave little soul shared a smile, and then embraced.
In parting, God said, “Do not forget little soul that I will be with you always. Although you have agreed to bear the pain, you will do so through my strength. And if the time should come when you feel that you have suffered enough, just say the word, think the thought, and you will be healed.” Thus at that moment the brave little soul was born into the world, and through her suffering and God’s strength, she unlocked the goodness and love in people’s hearts. For so many people dropped their differences and came together to show their love. Priorities became aligned. People gave from their hearts. Those that were always too busy found time. Many began new spiritual journeys – some regained lost faith – many came back to God. Parents hugged their children tighter. Friends and family grew closer. Old friends go together and new friendships were made. Distant family reunited, and every family spent more time together. Everyone prayed. Peace and love reigned. Lives changed forever. It was good. The world was a better place. The miracle had happened. God was pleased.
Pray for the Poor Mall Children
I just spent several hours observing teenagers who were hanging out at our local mall. I came to the conclusion that many teenagers in America are living in poverty. Most of the young men I observed didn't even own a belt; there was not one belt among the whole group. But that wasn't the sad part.
Many of them were wearing their daddy's jeans. Some of these jeans were so big and baggy and hung low on their hips, exposing their underwear. I know some of them must have been ashamed their daddy was short, because his jeans hardly went below their knees. They weren't even their daddies' good jeans.
It grieved me that in a modern, affluent society like America, there are people who can't afford a decent pair of jeans. I have been thinking about asking my church to start a jeans drive for the "poor kids at the mall." Then on Christmas Eve, I could go Christmas caroling and distribute jeans to these poor teenagers.
But that wasn't the saddest part.
It was the girls they were hanging out with that disturbed me the most.
I have never in all of my life seen such "poor" girls. These girls had the opposite problem of the guys. They all had to wear their little sisters' clothes. Their jeans were about five sizes too small. I don't know how they could even put them on, let alone button them up. Their jeans barely went over their hipbones.
Most of them also had on their little sister's top; it hardly covered their midsection. Oh, they were trying to hold their heads up with pride, but it was a sad light to see these almost grown women wearing children's clothes.
However, it was their underwear that bothered me the most. They also, because of the improper fitting of their clothes, had their underwear exposed. I have never seen anything like it. It looked like their underwear was only held together by a single piece of string. I know it also saddens your heart to receive this report on the condition of our American teenagers. While I go to bed every night with a closet full of clothes nearby, there are millions of "mall girls" who barely have enough material to keep it together.
I think their "poorness" is why these two groups gather at the mall, the boys with their short daddies' ripped jeans, and the girls wearing their younger sisters' clothes. The mall is one place where they can find acceptance.
So, the next time you are at the mall doing your shopping and you pass by some of these poor teenagers, would you say a prayer for them that the guys' pants won't fall down, and the girls' strings won't break?
"I Trust You'll Treat Her Well" by Victor Buono
Dear World: I bequeath to you today one little girl, in a crispy dress, with two blue eyes, and a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a flash of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I trust you'll treat her well. She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine. Prim and proud she'll wave the young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye". And walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.
Now she'll learn to stand in line, and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears to the sounds of school bells, and deadlines, and she'll learn to giggle, and gossip, and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy across the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And, now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.
No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn to kiss lilac blossoms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about important things. Like grades, and which dress to wear, and who's best friend is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.
For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and father and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers, which is only right. But, no longer will I be the smartest man in the whole world. Today, when that school bell rings for the first time, she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group. With all its privileges. And its disadvantages, too.
She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud. Or kiss dogs. Or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms. Or even watch ants curry across cracks in the summer sidewalk.
Today, she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.
So, World, I bequeath to you today one little girl, in a crispy dress, with two blue eyes, and a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a flash of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.
I trust you'll treat her well.
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