For the Women of AVPC

This post is Part One of a 5-day series this week in celebration of Mother's Day. 

For the past few years, through our membership at Altadena Valley Presbyterian Church, God placed me in the care of women who loved me and loved my children. Even when we were unlovable. When my kids were whiny and I was short-tempered. When our house and van were disastrous, which is most of the time.

These precious women picked up my eldest from school. They listened to my failings as a mom and my hopes to be better, and they shared their struggles with me. 

I recall picking up Hallie from Meredy's house one afternoon and growing increasingly frustrated with Hallie for disobeying. And I remember the gentle, honest word from my friend, who reminded me that my girl had not seen me all day and was simply craving my attention (which I was not giving her). I remember the sting of that truth, the ugliness of my own selfishness and hasty temper. And I am so grateful to be loved so well. It is no small thing to have friends who want to see your relationship with your daughter improve more than they want their own comfortable conversation.

I am grateful for Carol, my Church Mama, whose kind eyes made it ok to cry before the move--more than once. Who cherishes my children. Who, with raised hands and swaying hips, praised God on Sunday mornings with my babies beside her in the pew singing along.

I remember instructing one of Teresa's girls to do something one day and then apologizing to Teresa for it.  I remember her confusion at my apology and her reminding me that we'd promised to care for each other's children when they were baptized.  And that is exactly what that church does. 

I am grateful for the honesty of expectant mothers who confessed their fears and doubts at their baby showers and asked the women of the church to pray for them. For the shared struggles with moms of strong-willed little girls--and the shared joy at evidences of grace and growth in those little girls.

I'm grateful for honest conversations with mothers of children older than mine, who told me about the process of preparing their girls to leave for college and their relinquishing of control to the God who loves their daughters. I am thankful for the Sunday School teachers and Children's Worship teachers who prepared each week to teach my children about Jesus.

And then, of course, there is Heather, who loves my children as her own.  It is hard to imagine the last almost-six years of motherhood without her listening ear and constant help.  Just this weekend when she visited, and it became clear that the "kids were winning" in our house, she was able to encourage us and offer advice that we knew to be rooted firmly in love for us and our children.

Two and a half years seems such a short time for all of the love we experienced at AVPC. I think I could write volumes about that brief time period. But for now, for this Mother's Day, it is sufficient to say that the women of AVPC have made and continue to make me a better mommy. And for that I am eternally grateful. Happy Mother's Day to some of the most wonderful mothers I know!