Hold Hands

"Ordinary work, which is what most of us do most of the time, is ordained by God every bit as much as is the extraordinary. All work done for God is spiritual work and therefore not merely a duty but a holy privilege."

Yesterday we attended the celebration of my nephew's 5th birthday. As I sat in the diner center of this kid's museum, being waited on by the Peanut, another child came up and sat in my lap. Her mother hurried over and apologized multiple times. I recognized that look of panic in that mom's face - her daughter was unique and she didn't know how I would react. 

That makes me so sad this morning. Like ugly cry sad. Why do we live in a society where mama's not only have to battle the challenge of caring for a child with special needs, but also have to apologize for them? That sweet little girl knew Mama hands, she grabbed my hands and sat in my lap. My hands. 

In the last few weeks, I've looked down at my hands and thought "Man, I think I'm old!" My hands are showing the wear of the life I've lived. The bible tells me though that my hands are showing the works, the lives they have touched. 

"May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us." (Psalm 90: 17)

I read some book years ago about safety and children written by an ex head of the secret service. His number one tip about helping your children know what to do when they are lost was to tell them to find a Mama with kids. People in uniform aren't always safe, and kids can't always tell the difference between a police man and an exterminator in uniform. He shared that a mama with kids won't leave your kid until she finds you. It's an innate characteristics of mamas. We stay the course. We show up. We persevere. Our hands do the work of Jesus. 

Mama Warriors today, you are enough. Whatever is on your plate today, you've got this. Your hands - they find lost blankies, they bake favorite treats, they hold hands of scared children. Ordinary work is extraordinary.