May is for Moms

This post may be a bit premature, as Mother's Day is not until the weekend.  During the beginning part of May, before Mother's Day, as I gather the cards and words I'd like to send to the special moms in my life, I think a lot about what a privilege it is to be called, "mom."  I thank God for Evan, Nicholas, and Sarah.  I also look forward in hope to the day when a little girl in Rwanda will see me as "mom."  Each of them, in their own way, refines me into the best of who I am meant to be.  They have grown me toward greater love, patience, honesty, self-sacrifice, gratitude, and joy.  This year, as always, I ask myself, "Who am I?  Am I the kind of person I want to be?  Is that reflected in the way I approach motherhood?  Am I living intentionally in motherhood?  What am I doing well as a mom today?  At would could I have been better today?  How can I be better at encouraging other women's choices in motherhood? In what ways and by whom have I been encouraged in my journey?"  To my mom...thank you.  To Jon's mom...thank you.  To my sisters and friends who encourage and inspire me...thank you.