Monday Care for the Mama's Heart // A Poem to a Mother

A Poem to a Mother

Your head is feeling achy, filled with worries and with stress,
sometimes you question if today you truly gave your best.
It throbs and it runs, it hurts and it pounds,
at times you feel that it never calms down.

But that head that aches, look, it lifts up every day,
it houses sweet memories and has built the right words to say.
It has dreamed big for your family, for those kids you adore,
every day you pick your head up, you’re stronger than the day before.

Look down at those hands, though dried out and tired,
they’re the hands that first held those precious babies at your side.
They’re the hands that have wiped away a countless amount of tears,
they’re hands that can move mountains through every passing year.
They’re hands that have held on tight, guiding children as they grow,
they’re hands that havereleased, when it was time for them to go.

Your lips, on some days, may seem to stay in a pout,
questionable are the screams or the words that have come out. 
But those lips are special, they’ve laid out rules, and given advice,
they’ve kissedboo boos, said “i love yous,” and “you’ll always be my child.”
From your lips came words that your little ones needed to hear,
out came reassurance and comfort when they turned to you with fears.

Your eyes, though tired, and have gone long with little rest,
are the eyes that have watched in vigilance through their lowest and their bests.
Those eyes have cried tears of joy, fear, sorrow, and immense love,
they’re eyes that have closed as you prayed for your children to heaven above.

Your ears are ringing from the whines, shrills, screams, and “mo-mmy!”,
you have covered them up many times, in a desperate plea.
They have even been the recipients of unkind and hurtful words,
criticism, scoffs, and things you wish you never heard.

But your ears, though ringing, have been blessed to hear a child’s first words and shouts,
they’re the ears that have listened intently to worries and to doubts.
They’ve been blessed to hear conversations and laughter in your home.
They’re ears that have heard, “I love you, mom” and they remindyou you’re not alone.

Your feet, at times, seem to drag..slowly here and there,
some days they’re like weights, you feel you’re not getting anywhere.
Those feet ache, and it seems, many miles they have run,
but as you stepped forward each day, do you realize what you’ve done?

You have set an example,
you moved bravely and in faith,
with themiles your feet have walked,
you’ve shown your children the way.

Your heart is feeling tired, and has many times, broken right in half,
from the “no!”s and “i hate you!”s or the fights you have had. 
It has experienced heartache, and grief, and stress as it pounds,
for when it comes to your children, they’re your heart walking around.

But that heart, oh that heart, it’s such a special one,
It’s a heart that has strength, it’s a heart that has overcome.
It’s the heart that accepted the great role to be a mother
An adventure that involves trials and struggles like no other.

Unknown were the hardships and sweet joys ahead,
but your heart made itself ready for the wonderful road it would tread.
Motherhood called you, and your heart took on the call
so that heart, oh that heart, mother, is the strongest part of all.

So look in the mirror, and then see what’s within,
see the good that you do, and the love that you bring,
Look at your strength and your courage, true beauty is what you should see,
and know that this, wonderful mother, this is where you are meant to be.

By Pamela Macdonald