A Mother's Day to Remember
I came across a Mother's Day story that I had to share. It's from a mother whose name I do not know, but I do know she has three small children. At the time of the story were 4, 3 and 1 year old. The middle child was an especially precocious little boy named Eli. They also had a cat named Jack, who recently passed away.Those are the central characters in this story.
From there, I'll let the mom tell the story.
Eli really loves chapstick. LOVES it. He kept asking to use my chapstick and then losing it. So finally one day I showed him where in the bathroom I keep my chapstick and how he could use it whenever he wanted to but he needed to put it right back in the drawer when he was done.
Last year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush around and try to get ready for church with everyone crying and carrying on. My two boys are fighting over the toy in the cereal box. I am trying to nurse my little one at the same time I am putting on my make-up. Everything is a mess and everyone has long forgotten that this is a wonderful day to honor me and the amazing job that is motherhood.
We finally have the older one and the baby loaded in the car and I am looking for Eli. I have searched everywhere and I finally round the corner to go into the bathroom. And there sits Eli. Applying my chapstick very carefully to Jack's...rear end. Eli looks right into my eyes and says "chapped."
Now if you have a cat, you know that he is right--their little rear ends do look pretty chapped. And, frankly, Jack didn't seem to mind. And the only question to really ask at that point was whether it was the FIRST time Eli had done that to the cat's behind or the hundredth.
And THAT is my favorite Mother's Day moment ever because it reminds us that no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little creatures, there will always be that day when you realize they've been using your chapstick on the cat's rear.
I don't really have an inspiring spiritual lesson or moral to the story to share, unless it is to always make sure you know where your child is putting your chapstick. But I hope that silly story brought a smile to your face, and made you appreciate all that our moms do--and all they put up with--in doing what some have called the most important job in the world.
Don't miss the opportunity to hug your mom this weekend, if you have the chance, and be sure to thank her for all she did for you. But whatever you do, don't borrow her chapstick.