"Your body is the first thing any child of man ever wanted. Therefore dispose yourself to be loved, to be wanted, to be available. Be there for them with a vengeance. Be a gracious, bending woman. Incline your ear, your heart, your hands to them.... To be a Mother is to be the sacrament - the effective symbol - of place. Mothers do not make homes, they are our home." from Bed and Board, Robert Farrar Capon

Friday, July 6, 2012

A Daydream


   I was having one of those days, or rather one of those weeks. Being about 8 months pregnant I couldn’t decide whether to laugh or to cry. I think that God must have quite the sense of humor. All the things that most young women value go right out the  window  when there’s a baby on the way. So much for the “flat belly diet” - and pretty much anything else that was once flat. Add to this the  one year old and two year old girls I’ve already been blessed with, who seem to have an uncanny sense for timing those dirty diapers at the “wrong time” (but alas, is there really ever a “right time”?) and you can imagine how I was feeling. So we decided, well I decided and they agreed with tears in their eyes, that it was nap time. Bottles, blankets and binkies for everyone.

   Then the daydream came - We were at a church function and my pastor and I were talking about something really important. I can’t remember what, but you never can remember those really important conversations. Then out of the blue, he said, “I dream about someday talking to all of those shapely young women.”  A bit confused, and  not quite sure how to answer, I tried the old standby. “Ah,” said I. “Yes," He said, "I would love to talk to them. I’d love to ask them ‘Where are your babies?’ You’ve been using your body parts for all of the wrong reasons. God gave them to you for a reason. You would be much happier to be in your God given vocation of taking care of your babies.”

   Well just before I had come up with a response to that, someone’s child started crying. And I was thankful as my one year old leaned up against my big belly, wanting her mommy. Off I went to change another diaper and thank the Lord for such a full, blessed life.

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