Childhood’s End

A woman’s childhood begins to end the day she becomes a mother.

My daughter, Kimberly, told me she remembered the exact moment her childhood ended. It happened one day while she was changing her firstborn’s diaper. Suddenly it occurred to her that life was no longer about her but about her daughter. It was an “Aha!” moment. An insight.

For a man the transition to adulthood is not so clearly defined. All he knows is that the woman he married no longer has the time for him she once did. In fact he may find himself a little jealous of the attention his new baby receives from his wife. Sure, he’s proud of the new little life he helped to create. But realizing the awesome responsibility of parenthood and the need for selflessness can take longer for a dad.

A wise person once said, “Parenting is not so much about taking children and turning them into adults as it is about taking the parents and turning THEM into adults.”

One of the things that endear our mothers to us is their unselfish love. Selfish love only loves for the sake of itself. I love you for what you do for me. Unselfish love is unconditional. I don’t require anything of you. I love you for who you are and I give myself to you.

We learn that kind of love from our mothers and from God.

Sadly, childhood never ends for some people. It’s not a bad thing to keep a part of the wonder, joy and innocence of childhood. But there comes a time to grow up and take a lesson from our mothers: Life is no longer about us. True delight is found in the joy of others. Just ask a new mother. There is nothing more wonderful than your baby’s smile and hearing her laugh!

Does your life still have to be all about you?

Well hold on just a minute! What if life wasn’t fair to you? Maybe you never knew your mother. Maybe you never got along together. Or you lost her before you were ready to give her up. Or maybe you had a mother who abused you. What about that?

The truth is that people, even those closest to us, sometimes let us down. But God never does. He still loves you with an unconditional love. He promises to never leave us or forsake us--to be both a mother and father to us, if necessary. God is always there when you need him. When you become his child, he promises to meet all your needs.

The Bible says that God loves you and me so much that he gave us his very best. You’ve probably heard that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Do you enjoy his love and his gift of life?

This coming Sunday is mothers’ Day. If your mom is still alive, show her and tell her how much you appreciate her love for you. If you have lost your mom, remember the gift of life and the gift of love she gave to you. Then thank God for the mother he gave you.

I’m not suggesting that your mother was perfect. Far from it. In fact you may have to forgive her for being less than perfect. (You were less than perfect, too--remember those teen years?) But God gave you your mom. And he gave you to her.

We don’t get to choose our mothers but every one of us can choose to have a relationship with God. The Bible says that if you come to him through Jesus Christ, he will forgive your failures. He will love you like a long-lost child is loved who finally comes home.

Has your childhood ended? Spiritual maturity comes when we put God first in our lives and choose to serve others. Then you will delight in their smiles and rejoice in their laughter.

Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!