"I knew from the time I was 11 years old that I never wanted children," said the woman working her shift in the airport shop I was perusing yesterday, "they completely suck you dry."
Shocked by her blatant proclamation, I grasped for words. How do I encapsulate how important children are in a casual conversation while majorly jetlagged?
"My children don't suck me dry, but they are a lot of work. The best kind of work," I quipped.
After mulling over her words, I've realized that she was right. Children do suck you dry. But not in the way she meant.
Having the ever-humbling gift of being a mom is continually sucking me dry. But only the least desirable parts are being sucked out for my good, and God's glory.
The pools of pride are sucked dry when I choose to laugh at myself and my mama failings, rather than shame myself.
The riverbeds of fear are sucked dry as a bone when I release my grip on my kids - loving them with open hands rather than holding onto them with white knuckles.
Impatience swirls down the drain when I allow God's peace to suck my impatient tendencies dry.
So, God?
Suck me dry.
Yes, please suck me dry.
And, airport lady? I hope you get the privilege to be sucked dry too.
Love your post, Amanda. I don't have any kids of my own, but I have 6 nephews and one niece. I babysit 3 of the 6 of my nephews and niece on a very regular basis. Sometimes I feel sucked dry myself. Plus I was a Children's Leader at our Women's Bible Study last year. I had anywhere between 8-16 babies every Wednesday for 2 1/2 hours. I felt very sucked dry then, but I miss that time already, and your post helps me put things in perspective. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIn Christ,
Bethany