An Invisible You
Growing up, I used to wish I could be invisible; it was my preferred hypothetical super power, you could say. To be invisible would mean that I could listen in on conversations, go anywhere I wanted, do anything I wanted without being detected. It was either that, or be able to fly of my own power, but to be invisible…wow, that would be amazing.
So, What Happened
As we grow up, we want to be noticed. Oh, I can hear all the introverts now, ‘I don’t like being noticed,’ but please hear me out.
We try hard to make the team, fit in, get that job, etc. More importantly, however, we find what we really want is recognition for our accomplishments. Once in a while, if we’re honest with ourselves, we’d like to see our hard work be acknowledged: be it as a wife, mother, co-worker, son or daughter.
It is that thirst to be seen that can often drive us to our competitive nature, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, competition can be quite good in most instances, but it can also cause us to resent others.
All the Things
You work hard at home and oftentimes, outside of the home, but allow me to touch on home and motherhood. You keep up with the laundry and dishes; you cook the meals, pack the lunches, make the cupcakes, buy the gifts. You become a taxi driver, activity director, costume designer, and cheerleader. You’re a teacher, coach, and spiritual advisor. In essence, you do ‘all the things.’ All these things can be rewarding in and of themselves, but they are also draining and exhausting. Am I right?
See Me
We become invisible. We’re the mysterious being that makes everything work for those that we love. They have all their needs met and it’s an unspoken expectation that we’ll continue to do so. They go about their days and miraculously have clean clothes and dishes to eat off of; they have all the supplies that they need for their activities, and they magically get transported from point A to point B. We even give them the last cookie or eat the burnt piece of toast so they won’t have to. It’s hard work, and for the most part, we can feel under-appreciated. We don’t always hear a thank you, or get a plaque that reads World’s Best Mom, or World’s Greatest Wife because we are invisible.
Our Greatest Reward
But here’s the thing. We may not get that recognition we desire, or feel appreciated in these moments. What we do get, however, are well-adjusted, well-loved, well-nurtured kids. Our reward, our atta girl, our pat on the back, is seeing our children grow to be good members of society that treat others with respect, are helpful, giving, and caring. And do you know why they’ll be that way? Because you taught them how to be. What you’ve done was to build a legacy–something that will live on well after you are gone. You’ll have taught them well, and your children will be invisible to their children, and so on.
Do you know why that is?
Because they see you. They see everything. They see the way you love on them; even when you discipline them, they know it’s because you love them. They see you when you smile and laugh with them, when you make their favorite dish, or when you bake a cake. They see you when their friends come over and you make them feel welcome. They see you when you kiss their father, and tuck them in at night. They’ll remember all you’ve done and when they become parents, they’ll know your sacrifice.
You’ve Built a Monument
You’ve built a treasure that will live on. A monument built over time with sweat, tears, and sometimes even pain. You’ve built it brick by brick with love, joy, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, patience, and self-control. You’ve built a home and a family, and that my friends, is a gift that yields its greatest rewards.