When Motherhood Awakens You to Beautiful Wonder

It was early morning, all was calm, and little boy pitter-patter had yet to dance across the floors of our home. I walked down the stairs to the basement where my exercise space lives, turned on some background music, and stepped on the elliptical machine.

My body warmed up with each stride and the silhouette of a new day coming to life appeared out the window ahead. It was dark but specs of light were beginning to show. Time ticked on for awhile.

And then my mama alarm went off.

“Mommmmmy!!!”

Still moving, I turned the music down. 4-year-old tears exploded, screams echoing all the way down the stairs and into my exercise space. My son usually finds me upstairs when he awakens, but not this day. I decided to exercise earlier than normal.

“Mommmmmy!!! Where’s Mommy???? Where’s Mommy???”

And my mama heart pierced and I’m a softy and yes my son is way more important to me than exercise, but sometimes I’m a better mommy when I get in a good work-out. So instead of flying up the stairs, I answered back from downstairs:

“Sweetheart, I’m down in the basement. Just come down. I’m exercising.”

A few moments later, l was greeted with a half-awake face with squinted eyes, and little body dressed in navy fleece p.j’s with colorful bears. He sweetly curled up in a ball on the floor and snuggled up with his favorite tan blankie — the blanket I remember unwrapping at my baby shower before my son let out his first cry.

I ended my work-out early and we headed upstairs. After a few overcast days, perhaps this was the day the sun would shine again.

We headed to peek out back.

And I paused — mesmerized by the calmness of the sky and the hint of light rising in the east. Pictures were calling so I snapped a few.

Then we came back inside to get going for the day. A few minutes later, I peered out the kitchen window and stunning strokes of color painted the sky.

We headed back outside and I snapped some more pictures in the coolness of the autumn morning. For a moment, I forgot about the schedules and to-do-lists of the day as we watched the sky change vibrant colors.

My peaceful heart whispered thanks to the Great Artist.

I feel God’s loving presence in His creation, and an even deeper sense of wonder awakened in me when I became a mom.

Walks on dirt trails, strolls around lakes, tromping through snow building snowmen, catching ladybugs, backyard adventuring, the mundane of scrubbing never ending dishes at the kitchen sink only to gaze up and out the window to God’s beautiful creation…

All is a gift.

The days of motherhood fill quick, go quick, and they don’t stay little long. And children are often the ones who awaken the childlike heart in us — the childlike heart that is alive with wonder and isn’t too rushed to notice the beauty that fills the earth.

Busy is always calling, but I’m learning the way to be a better receiver of His gifts, is to pause more. Often with my son by my side, I soak in breathtaking sunrises, sunsets, puffy white clouds, rainbows, and leaves changing colors on trees.

They are whispers from God reminding me that He’s near, that He’s with me on this journey, that He loves me, that being Mommy is a gift, that the miracle of a child is a gift – and that what really matters isn’t stuff or earning titles or whatever else the world says is most important.

What really matters —

Is knowing Him.

And on this journey of motherhood, I’ve discovered Him more. I fallen more in love with Him as I’ve caught glimpses of His beauty in the expected and unexpected.