Not long ago, my husband and I were browsing a lot of RV trailers for sale, trying to get a bit of an idea about what kind of layout, size and style would be a good fit for our family. As we ambled about the lot a salesman, probably in his sixties or so, approached us. He was a friendly gent and had us chatting and laughing within seconds. He asked my husband what he does for work and then for the next few minutes the two of them chatted about that.

“So what do you do?” The salesman turned his conversation to me.

“I am a stay-at-home mom,”I responded, smiling broadly. He paused briefly, his face breaking into a huge grin.

“Thank you for not saying, I am JUST a stay at home mom. Your job is probably one of – he hesitated briefly – no your job is probably THE most important job in society! And, if more moms in society would see it that way, our society would probably have less problems!”

That man blessed me that day. He reiterated to me one of my deepest convictions. I am not just a mom! I have been chosen to nurture and shape precious little souls. This is my career, a career of a very high calling. I am blessed. I am honored to have been chosen for such a task. I am humbled that God would choose me to do this.

This blog. It is something I have contemplated for about a year and a half now. A few have thrown the idea my way, suggesting it would be something I possibly might have the opportunity to bless others with. I have almost taken the plunge on numerous occasions but somewhere in there has been a day when I have really struggled in my role. Discouragement has held me back. Who am I to share with the world? Sure, I’ve learned a thing or two. But I still have so much to learn! And then it dawned on me the other day, the moms I feel the most encouraged by are the ones who have lots of experience, who have struggled, who have failed, and who have found victory. They’ve climbed the mountains, faced the demons, and triumphed in the breakthroughs.

I have experienced a lot in this wonderful “mom world” and so I do have a lot to share. I have two beautiful biological boys, and one sweet boy I refer to as my angel, mostly because he lives with the angels now. Although I only got to be mommy to this darling boy for three short years, I am mommy forever to his memory in my heart. I have anticipated becoming a mommy five times, only to find myself sitting in a puddle of tears, facing  a broken heart, and empty arms. Two of those were miscarriages. One was an adoption, The other two were through a long and difficult process known as embryo adoption – that failed. I am a foster mom and now (eeek, my heart just skipped a beat!) prospective adoptive mom! My journey has been messy – but oh what a beautiful and meaningful mess it has been!

I am a Christian. Jesus is my Saviour. He comforts my heart when I confess and and ask his forgiveness for the areas where I have failed, and helps me find the joy. And he leads me to new hope and encouragement when I am lost and falling apart. By his grace and strength I climb the mountains and find the victory.

As Mother’s Day approaches I think of the journey I have been on thus far throughout my career as a mom. My heart is filled with so much gratitude. I know ever so deeply I can attribute at least a part of that gratitude to those times when I have felt deep heartbreak and emptiness. I heard a story once of a man standing with a crowd on the deck of a ship admiring a beautiful sunset. He stood there much longer than the others, appearing completely spellbound. Finally someone asked why it enthralled him so deeply. He explained that once, for five years, he was blind before some sort of medical breakthrough had allowed him to recover his sight. It seems to be a part of cursed human nature that we appreciate more after we have lost. I knew there was a chance my youngest son could die from the same genetic disease that took his brother. To this day, at times, my heart will still swell with joy over one of his temper tantrums. I’m serious! I just feel so thankful that he is healthy enough and ALIVE to pull off a tantrum! Of course I am only human and don’t always manage to feel that way!

We are not just moms! May this blessed and this career of one of the highest callings have us on our knees begging for grace and wisdom. May we be found searching, growing, and loving. May we raise up a generation of souls that will bless a broken and needy world. May our kids one day have hearts full of love and stand in noble character as they remember the woman they called ‘ Mom’ was not just a mom. I believe that with God’s help and this kind of heart we will indeed find the result described in the scripture, Proverbs 31:28, Her children rise up and call her blessed. That kind of woman was never just a mom.