A Mother’s Paycheck – My Mother’s Hands

 

This week I have missed my youngest daughter more than usual.  I think it is because there have been so many snow days (days from school because of snow).  It would be fun to spend the day with Audrianna, snowed in so we could talk, watch TV and work on dinner together.  

Above my kitchen sink, I have a poem she wrote me and then framed titled My Mother’s Hands.  It was part of  a wonderful Christmas gift my daughters got me several years ago (you can read about that gift in a 2007 post titled Memorable Gifts or at A Mother’s Paycheck website). 

Since I am missing my youngest daughter and I need to be reminded of her love for me… it is time to share Audrianna’s gift of writing this heart touching poem with you.  Thank you Audrianna for this Mother’s Paycheck — I will treasure it always!

 

 

 

My Mother’s Hands

By Audrianna Joseph 

They are a picture of tenderness; 

A portrait of grace 

A captured moment of happy bliss, 

As dainty as lace 

~ 

Their feather softness will caress,  

They are strong 

Their tough enough to clean the mess 

They sing a silent song 

~ 

They are there when you are young or old 

Forever believing 

They create warmth from the cold 

Never deceiving 

~ 

They will softly wipe away all your tears 

You can’t live without 

They will destroy all of your fears 

They will never doubt 

~ 

You do not always get it or agree 

They are hope 

When you are blind, they let you see 

They let you cope 

~ 

They are love 

They will always understand 

They are love 

They are your mother’s hands 

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A Mother’s Pay Check – A Story from Me

Even though our home may be empty, there are always special items in our home to remind me of my Mother’s Paychecks – how I was paid as a Mom.  This story is one that has come to my mind this week as I await the arrival of our daughters coming home for Thanksgiving.

When Laryssa was about 10 or 11, I caught her with a flashlight under her covers one night after she was suppose to be asleep.  Of course, that was against our family rules and when I found her, I immediately switched into “discipline mode” and demanded that Laryssa show me what she had under the covers.  I remember her cries of “no, Mommy, no — please don’t make me.”  She was adamant that she would not show me what she had under the covers (I assumed it was a book that she was not allowed to read).  I stood at the end of her bed and lectured her on the importance of obeying me and how if she didn’t obey me, she might not be obedient to God someday.  I really felt that I had done some great “mothering” when I walked out of her room – I was sure that Dr. Dobson would be proud of me and that Laryssa would experience the sadness of her disobedience.

Imagine how I felt several weeks later, when I received this amazing needle point as a gift from Laryssa.

This is what she was working on under her covers – this special little needle point that she designed, bought the supplies for and then created in under the covers in her bed at night.  Today, this masterpiece sits in my kitchen where I can see it and remember the recognizable moment of a daughter who still offered grace and love after her mother did not.

And that is A Mother’s Paycheck….

 

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