The Story of the Second-hand Mother

 Once upon a time there was a mother, who loved shoes, and lived in a

Copyright R&SMovement 2013

cottage with her Handsome Husband. And, yes, she had so many children, she didn’t know what to do. One child had dyslexia, another ADD, another ADHD, and still another apraxia of speech. She loved and cared for each one, grieving their losses, celebrating their victories. She watched them grow. They turned into Three Fine Young Men and One Special Young Lady. And the mother smiled, her job nearly done. So she made plans for her future.

Then the Lord of the Heavens said, “Oh, not so fast, Mother of the Cottage. I will send you three more children to fill your home.”

But the mother cried, “I’m older. Have you seen my gray hairs? Lord, do you have any idea how hard it is to be a parent? And besides, I can finally afford more shoes. Surely you’ve chosen the wrong mother!”

But the Lord of the Heavens said, “Do not fear. I will be with you.”

Then Three Little Girls, with broken dreams and sad hearts, but sparkly bright futures, came to live with the older Mother of the Cottage and her aging husband.

Each day, the mother asked—no, she cried—to the Lord of the Heavens for wisdom, patience, mercy, grace, forgiveness.

Time passed. Then something mysterious and marvelous happened—the Mother of the Cottage, her Handsome, Aging Husband, the Three Fine Young Men and Special Young Woman fell in love with the Three Little Girls. And although the Mother of the Cottage still cries out to the Lord of the Heavens for wisdom daily, she knows in her heart there is nothing more important she can do with her future. And she surely doesn’t need more shoes.

And this is the beginning of the story of the Second-hand Mother—a momma parenting for the second time around.

 

Twice upon a time . . .

 

If you would like to read more stories from the Second-Hand Mother, please subscribe to Carolyn's new blog here. Carolyn will continue to address issues for survivors of sexual abuse at Tamar's Redemption beginning this fall.