Some of the greatest lessons I learned about motherhood I learned from my father. That might sound odd if you didn’t know who his teacher was. He, in turn, learned them from one of the greatest mothers of all ”“ Mother Nature.  Even though I grew up in the middle-class suburbs of SLC, my father taught me to observe what Mother Nature had to offer in terms of life lessons.  Whenever there was an opportunity to be part of God’s creations, my father was there, guiding my thoughts and nudging my spirit to appreciate the hidden treasures one could find.  God has placed reminders on the earth to help us remember who we are, how to find joy, and even how to parent.

My earthly father taught me if you look carefully at the world around you, each living thing has a role and a purpose to fulfill.  The ant can’t become an eagle.  A rock cannot do what a plant does.  The sun cannot become the wind, no matter how hard it tries. As modern mothers, sometimes I think that we think we have to fill many roles.  You see it on commercials ”““the chauffeur, the PTA volunteer, the executive, the teacher, the bank, the model citizen, the cover girl, the housekeeper, the cook, etc.”  Add to that our own Mormon cultural pressures, “the RS President, the Enrichment idea inventor, the meeting organizer, the music coordinator, the Primary teacher, the casserole queen,” and you get a very confused, stressed out existence.  We become “caught in the thick of thin things.” Don’t buy into it! A Mother can be simply a Mother. Don’t be something you are not or do something you are not equipped to do!  The Lord our Savior said it best,

“Consider the ^alilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”¨” My father can tell you every single Latin and colloquial name of every wildflower that grows in Utah.  As you walk with him, he points out each one and recognizes its details like they were his children.  Some look like weeds to me, but to him they are lovely. He appreciates them for what they are.

My favorite flower is the lilac.  So, I say, “Consider the lilacs!” Consider their divine nature! I planted one lilac bush last year.  This spring one gorgeous purple spray burst out of the bush.  That plant spent all its energy on one lilac cluster.  It is the most fragrant lilac I have ever smelled.  It found joy in its effort.  What would have happened if it tried to grow 20 or 30 sprigs?  It would have reached beyond its capacity and perhaps not been as fragrant.  So, we too, should focus on one thing and do it wonderfully.

In Nature we see other examples of “blooming where you are planted.”  In California I have seen trees clinging to cliffs above the Pacific Ocean.  They have grown straight out of a rock.  They don’t get the opportunity to change their circumstances as we do, but instead make the most of what they have been given.  Their branches stretch to the sky and their roots dig deep for nourishment.  Beneath them, is another example of a life lesson.  The tides crash against the beach or rocks again and again.  The same task is done over and over and over, for what end?  Have you ever cleaned up a room to walk in literally five minutes later to see it completely in chaos?  Have you ever washed dishes just to turn them around and place them again on the table?  For what purpose?  The tide can slowly erode solid rock to create beautiful creations.  It can also bring up treasures from the depths of the ocean to land on the beach. The tide doesn’t question its hourly journey. It is consistent and patient.  So we, as mothers, should be and recognize that we do our daily tasks for a greater purpose.  Do you think that Mother Earth would wake up today and say, “I’ve turned around and round enough times.  I’m not going to do it again.  Not until I get some help around here!”

No, she wouldn’t stop. She knows that in her turning, the seasons will pass and all too quickly.  After the night, there will be day.  After a storm, there will be sun.  This reassurance gives her confidence to continue.  She finds joy in fulfilling her creation.  That is what I want to do as a mother.  Mother Nature places reminders all around us to offer encouragement and give us comfort.

Here are some other lessons I have learned about motherhood from my father and mother earth.

1)       Floods, fire, and earthquakes happen.  We all get angry sometimes.  Like the earth, tremors help children to keep respect for you and not take you for granted.

2)       Ivy can grow and cling to anything.  It can be as strong as steel.  Cling to your testimony, cling to the Lord, cling to your spouse.  Be like ivy and cover your house with strength.

3)       Without valleys we wouldn’t appreciate mountains.

4)       Grow deep roots to withstand storms.  If you do get knocked over, become a beautiful resting spot for someone else.

5)       Fruit trees are pruned in order to gain a bountiful harvest.

6)       Rain gives to make things grow. So we sacrifice as parents to help our children grow.  However, like water evaporating and returning to earth, our spiritual selves will fill up again.   

7)       Be adaptable.  Salamanders grow new tails when one falls off.  A cactus can grow in a desert.  Branches regrow where they are broken.  Mothers can change their plans on the spur of the moment.  Mothers can heal from broken hearts.  Mothers can put together a meal from food storage.

       Lost children are like perennials resting under the snow, biding their time. Spring will come again.  Like the salmon, they have an internal and eternal compass that will guide them home.

As you contemplate motherhood over this Mother’s Day weekend, what lessons have you learned that you would be willing to share?