Twenty after ten at night and I'm cutting out gingerbread. I've got pie dough in a ball waiting to be rolled out, date squares cooling on the counter, bread dough rising and cookie dough chilling in the fridge.
My mom sends me a text to see if we've lost power in the ice storm. It's the onset of the storm before Christmas and hundreds of homes will lose hydro for hours, thousands will be without power for days. (We were fortunate to be one of the ones to only lose it for a few hours. However, not until all the baking was done.)
I text her back and tell her what I'm up to. She inquires in return, "Baking marathon? Why tonight?"
Well, that's a simple response. "Why not?"
My thumb taps out on my iPhone keypad, "I've turned into my mom. ;)"
I had started into all this baking earlier in the afternoon, left it undone because of all the other interruptions of the day, like making supper and making sure there were clean socks for church tomorrow, and then being so tired by 7:30 that I needed a cat nap to get through the rest of the night. I'm still up at midnight, when the house is quiet and I can hear the rhythmic breathing of my children just around the corner of the kitchen, and I'm dipping hazelnut shortbread cookies into chocolate and adorning them with hazelnuts simply because this is a favourite cookie in our home.
Some think I'm crazy and I suppose I am. But, isn't that what moms do? Her lamp burning late into the night, making life rich, never wearying of well-doing for her family.
Whether it's cleaning clothes or dishes, tidying up from the life lived today or preparing for the day that will dawn in a few short hours, making photos books or writing down memories, sweeping the crumbs away or snuggling with nursing babies, baking bread or cookies for Christmas celebrations, the mother's job always seems to linger into the hours of darkness.
And when she finally falls into bed, exhausted from serving the ones entrusted to her care, she whispers prayers for her family for really it's not the things that can be seen that really matter, but the unseen things that the mother does for her children that will last for eternity.
Would you share if you are a Mama that has a lamp burning late?
Linking with Behind the Scenes
Sounds like you were baking with love! As mothers, we will do anything for our children, especially things that make their lives nicer. I'm sure that the extra care that you put into preparing late into the night will be long remembered and modeled by your own children when they have children of their own! And just like you said, even more importaqnt than the physical things we do for them, it is the things that cannot be seen that truly matter...For God hears all our prayers and knows our hearts!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Joan
I always thought once my little ones grew up I would be able to stop burning my lamp so late but they are 21 and 25 and I am still at it. I am either waiting up to make sure one comes home or wondering if the other is safe in his own place. I guess it is true that a mother's work is never done.
ReplyDeleteJoining you from Crystal's Behind the Scenes link up.
Heck yes! My lamp does not go out. Partially because I stay up late to write and do things for me, and partially because my 8-month-old has decided to quit sleeping. 0_0 Great to meet another mom burning the lamp. I mean, I'm tired, but it's ok. :) Joining you from Behind the Scenes.
ReplyDeleteThe little guy that keeps my lamp burning all night, is playing on the floor smiling at me and I am happily sipping on a coffee, giving thanks for the blessing of God's word, His presence and sisters who encourage me to look upward for strength. Wouldn't mind one of those cookies though! ;) (Rachel)
ReplyDeleteso very beautiful :)
ReplyDelete