Finished or Not

Finished! What a wonderful word! In the past number of months I have looked for things in my life and projects around my house that I can finish. I have finished a blanket that took two years to crochet. I have started and finished a baby afghan for my daughter. I have set goals in doing genealogy and I'm beginning to see those completed. I have finished teaching most of the lessons in seminary, with only two weeks left to go. I have finished two rugs in the last week. I have finished another year of art classes and the associated projects. I have even completed three of our family year books already this year! That has been on my list for a long, long time.Yes to be finished a project or complete a goal brings with it a wonderful feeling.

There are other things that fill my time, that though I diligently work at them, they may never be finished. Working in my yard, doing laundry, caring for my children, cooking meals, baking bread, and the list goes on and on and on. However, with each of these things on my list, there is still a sense of satisfaction as I work on them. I especially love it when I see progress or when I see the lives of those I love enriched or blessed in someway. It is the little daily acts of caring that bring meaning into my life. Some might call these things menial and drudgery. But I find great satisfaction in performing the small acts of service for my family and those I care about.

In addition to things that I can finish, and things that might at some point in time be considered finished though they recur, there are also things that I will never consider finished. Probably raising my family is the top thing on that list. I once heard someone say that, "once a mother, always a mother". I believe that that is true. Half of my children have left home, and yet, I think I worry about them more than I ever did when they were here in our home with us. I don't get to talk to them as often and I don't see them every day anymore. But my heart and my thoughts are very much focussed on them regularly. Another thing that I will never be finished is my scripture study. While I may finish a book of scripture every year, maybe even more, I will always immediately begin another. I love to learn the Gospel and I don't think I will ever be able to learn it all. For this reason I study the Scriptures, conference messages, and seek out uplifting reading material. This has proved to be such a great blessing, and it helps me immensely as I care for my family.

With Mother's Day only a few days away, I can't help but reflect upon the things that fill my time, my thoughts, and my heart. Most of the tasks that I perform are done with my family, or those that I love in mind. I am so grateful to my good husband who works so hard, providing for our family, allowing me to be able to be in our home taking care of these things. I love being a mother! I love having my children visit, share their thoughts, tell me what they're excited about, or even share concerns. I love those moments we have together to play, to counsel, to laugh, to visit, to share, and to teach. Motherhood brings me more joy than any other thing I have ever done in this life. I am so thankful for the privilege and blessing it is to be a mother.