I often find myself thinking about the scripture from the book of Matthew, chapter 25:

“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

“When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

“Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25:37–40.)

Almost every morning, shortly after the crack of dawn, Nina and Miri storm our bedroom, jump on our bed and repeat over and over again: "I want food!  I want food!"  I drag my tired body to the kitchen and make them breakfast.  Breakfast is just the beginning to a day full of preparing food, serving food, feeding the baby his food, and cleaning up food.  

"For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat."

 

Every day, our home is filled with the shrill screams of baby Weston wanting his milk. "Give him some milk Mom!  Feed him!  Feed him!" the girls will cry.  Sometimes, I just can't make those bottles fast enough!    

"I was thirsty and ye gave me drink."  

I welcomed each of my three babies into this world with open arms.  I felt more love for these little strangers than I ever thought possible. 

"I was a stranger and ye took me in."

 Ah yes, and the daily struggle to dress all three of my children.  First, I have to find matching clothes in the huge pile of laundry on the floor...then I have to deal with the girls' complaining about how they don't want to wear that color today...or that the tag is itchy...or it's too hot...or there are no princesses on that shirt, etc.  Once I have managed to dress the girls, it's baby Weston's turn.  Dressing baby Weston is like trying to dress a squirming baby octopus.  He wiggles his arms and legs and body, trying to get away, while at the same time screaming and crying.  Then, after you get them all dressed, you have to do their hair, which is a story for another day.  And then, you have to find their shoes!  Shoes that actually match!  The whole task is almost more than I can bear at times.   

"I was naked, and ye clothed me."

 I feel very blessed to have three healthy children.  They have all had their sick days though.  I think I am a much better parent when they are sick.  I tend to be more patient, calm, and full of love.  We've definitely had our share of sleepless nights, helping the girls get to the toilet in time to throw up (they usually don't make it)...cleaning up the vomit stained blankets and washing it out of their hair. Running hot showers in the middle of the night, while holding each of my babies in the steamy bathroom to help them breathe better.  Checking temperatures every few hours and administering medicine.

"I was sick, and ye visited me."   

There is a sense of the divine in the daily struggles of feeding, dressing, and keeping my children healthy and well.  Every time I feed, dress, or care for my children, I am not just serving them, I am serving my Savior.  

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least (or the littlest) of these my  brethren, ye have done it unto me."  

I find great purpose in my calling as a mother.  I feel privileged to lay down my life, every hour, every day to serve these precious spirits, and ultimately, to serve my God.  This is the great blessing of Motherhood.  Now, if I could just keep this perspective in mind at all times!