Holidays for Mom's

Now that all plans for Easter have been accomplished, I look back at all the holidays and all the work.  Is it all worth it? There's all the shopping, cooking, and planning.  Is it REALLY worth all the stress? 

A general example:

First, Mom has to convince Dad to watch the kids so that she can shop for holiday items (Easter basket stuff, lunch, and clothes).  Then, Mom has to be able to get into the house without being attacked by children when she pulls in the driveway.  Easter items have to be hidden in the house because in South Mississippi, chocolate doesn't stay solid in the car. But the kids are already pounding on the van window, to the point that Mom is scared for her life!!!!  Nevertheless, Mom is able to fight her way through the hungry crowd (a constant state of being in children) to get all the items and groceries into the house.  Then becomes the task of putting the groceries away before the cold things spoil or the children break/consume the food.  Now during the week before Easter, Mom also has to bus children around from one activity to the next because she is certain that her babies will not miss out on all the fun activities.  The night before Easter there is the preparing for the "Easter Bunny".  After all he can't come into a dirty house!  And she tries to get any cooking possible completed, so that is off her plate.  All the children HAVE to be clean for church the next day, so showers ensue.  Then the water has to be mopped up off the floor, because they are too excited to remember close the shower curtain.  Stories are read, kids are in bed, and Mom chases them back to bed again and again (they are again too excited).  FINALLY, they are asleep and it is time for a finish up any cooking that can be prepared before hand.  Then off to find that rabbit and make sure the job is done. Well, "Harvey" fell asleep and she is left on her own.  So, Mom (lovingly even though frustrated and exhausted) helps Harvey with his ONLY Easter job.  Around midnight, Mom get to sleep.  6:00 a.m., Mom wakes up to get everyone ready for church.  In the words of Dave Ramsey, "you can lose your religion getting ready for church."  The kids are so excited!  And they have gotten into a piece of candy before you  stopped them from consuming the entire basket.  The family makes it to church, all the kids to their classes.  But Mom is service focused, so she goes and serves in different ministries exhausting herself further.  The family gets home and Mom starts the final preparations for dinner.  WAIT THOUGH! There are VEGETABLES!  Who knew that you had to eat those "nasty things."  Mom finally makes it through dinner, and the table is cleaned.  Now, to the Easter eggs!!!  Well, that "Harvey" fell asleep again.  So, Mom goes and hides the eggs.  Kids run crazy through the yard finding the eggs.  A blood curdling scream goes through the air!!!  The 3 year old found eggs.....in his sister's basket.  After a few times hiding and finding eggs, they are playing outside "nicely" and the house is a disaster again.  Mom finally sits for a moment thinking, "Is it worth all this?"  The daughter comes in with a present that she made today.  It is one coupon for a free hug. Mom thinks again....."Yes, it's worth it.

   What is a holiday without a meltdown????  

Don't forget.  Jesus thought we were worth it too.  We were important enough to him that he gave himself through a cruel death on a cross so that we could have eternal life in heaven.  He didn't want us to miss out either.