Tuesday, January 17, 2012

In the Comfort of Her Arms.

I have always had a loving relationship with my mom.  She has always been the epitome of a 'lady'.  She is very feminine.  She even throws like a girl!  I have always been grateful for the type of mom I have. 
When I was little, I would get earaches, periodically.  I remember being up in the middle of the night feeling like my head was going to explode.  The pain grew so intense that I needed to go get my mom (because moms can take away any kind of pain.)  I would awaken her and she would lovingly take care of the pain that I was experiencing.  There were many nights when mom would heat up olive oil and put that in my ears and then stick a cotton ball into my ear canal.  That gave me some relief.  Then, she would rock me to sleep in the old rocking chair.  I can remember how good she smelled.  Her touch was soothing.  I knew that she cared about me.  The greatest relief came from being in her arms.
I don't get earaches anymore but the aches that I feel, once in awhile, come in a different way.  Becky has stepped appropriately into the role as the one who brings relief to my soul.  There have been occasions when I knew that if I could just talk to her that things would be alright.  And they are! 
It doesn't matter who you are, the time does come when you need someone who you can trust, to take away the burdens that seem to weigh you down.
I have the great blessing of Becky and my mom.
After Natalie (our oldest) was born, Becky's mom came over to our apartment, during the day, to give her the help that she needed because she was a new mom.  I was a young inexperienced father who was overly confident in my excitement of fatherhood.  I figured that when I came home from work that my mother-in-law could then go home and I could pick up where she left off.  That didn't happen exactly like I had hoped it would.  (Mom is an absolute angel.)  I got home on the second day and went into the room where Becky was laying on the bed.  She asked how the day had gone and I began to cry.  To this day, I can't remember ever crying that hard in my life.  I didn't understand the importance that it was for Becky to have her mom there to help.  I was frustrated that I didn't feel like anyone could see that I was perfectly capable of running our household and taking care of my wife and our new baby daughter.  Feeling a bit frustrated, I called later that evening to spout off the frustration that I felt to my own mom.  As has always been the case, my mom heard me out, completely.  There was silence on the other end of the phone.  "Becky needs her mom."  I was missing the most important part of the whole scenario, my wife needed her mom.  I am grateful that my mom spoke the words that I needed to hear the very most.  I needed to allow Becky to have her mom there.  I just didn't understand.  It will be a great blessing for Becky to be there when our daughters have children of their own and I hope that their husbands see that need better than I did.
Especially when I was young, I needed the comfort from within the arms of my mom.  I am grateful that I have a sweet woman that gives me the comfort that I need, in her arms.