Courtesy of the California American Mothers Blog
My daughter, Cindy, was recently chosen Alaska Mother of the Year. I am so proud of her. She, however, is feeling totally unworthy of the honor.
“I haven’t done all those great and wonderful things that the other mothers have done,” she said. I haven’t started charities or schools or businesses. I’m just an ordinary mom. What’s more, I lose my temper with the children. Sometimes I’m so tired of their fighting I just send them outside. I complain and cry.”
Maybe she is just ordinary, but she has done the small and simple things that lead up to great motherhood, often under very difficult circumstances. As have you.
“Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.”
So how do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time!
How do you climb a mountain? How do you learn to play the piano? How do you become a great mother?
Great and marvelous events seem to motivate us, and small things often do not hold our attention. However, small simple acts sustained over long periods of time can help us grow our muscles, increase our abilities, tame our temper, let a child know he is loved. An act of kindness, an inspired response, an effort made over and over and over, sustained over time becomes a source of great power and influence for good.
Performance and accomplishment are rarely the result of gigantic and dramatic efforts expended in a relatively short period of time. We don’t eat that elephant all at once. Little baby steps, when taken consistently and persistently, lead to effective performance and satisfying accomplishment.
