Our recent show, MOTHERHOOD IN THE TRENCHES, got me thinking about all the women in my life who’ve been “in the trenches” with me who don’t have children of their own.
My friend Mindy, whom I’ve known for 20 years, has never had the blessing of bearing children of her own. But she has mothered, fostered, tutored, housed, mentored, and cherished many children.
She and her husband have fostered nine children; two of which she was hoping to adopt but instead opened her heart to the children’s biological mother and helped rehabilitate her so the children could be raised by her. Her heart is always in the right place, even when it’s breaking.
Mindy recently had two foreign exchange students live with her for a year. These students happily called her mom. When it was time to return home, not knowing when they’d see her again, they wept. I think of the hours they spent learning from her, laughing with her, listening to her, and loving her.
Isn’t that what mothers do?
Mindy has also had a motherly influence on me. I know whenever I’m with her she makes me feel like I’m the most important person in her life. She carefully and confidently advises, compliments and encourages. She shares her hopes and dreams, failures and successes, and always attentively listens to mine.
Whenever she comes to visit me—which isn’t often enough because she lives in Texas and I live in Utah—I drop everything to make time to see her. I’d be crazy not to! Because she praises everything I do (which believe me, not all of it praiseworthy). From my cooking to my decorating to how I raise my children, Mindy assures me I’m a wonderful mother, and tells my children how lucky that I’m their mom (and no she’s not being paid to say it although I probably should tip her!).
While I’m quick to see all my flaws, Mindy is quick to see my strengths.
That’s why I consider Mindy a mother in the trenches in truest sense of the word.
So, when we talk about being in the trenches of motherhood, let’s all look around us and see ALL the women who have influenced us for good. Those who lift us up and return us to sanity in moments of insanity, as well as those who bluntly tell us when our roots need touching up.
As the wise Sheri Dew said: “Few of us will reach our potential without the nurturing of both the mother who bore us and the mothers who bear with us.”
How grateful I am for women who are mothers in the truest sense of the word.
So lucky am I to call Mindy . . . F R I E N D.
With love and friendship,
Jodi
Jodi is an author, speaker, and blogger at www.shareloveserve.com. She and her husband are the parents of four children. She enjoys late nigt ice cream runs, long walks in winter, and visiting small towns.
Graphic is courtesy of LDS media library.
Free download https://www.lds.org/ensign/2001/11/are-we-not-all-mothers?lang=eng
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