A Mama's Prayer For Mother's Day | Shirley Mozena Speaker and Author

From the past. My children were once babies–who wore this gown.

It’s a simple gown. The flannel has fuzzy little balls on the fabric, indicating its been washed and dried many times. It belonged to my babies. I was once a young mommy, too.

I’ll never forget the day I was released from the hospital after having my first born, Todd. They brought him into my room, laid him on the bed and said, “You may dress your baby now.”

“Now?” I asked. My hands shook as I took the creamy white-trimmed-with-aqua-one-piece-pajama and tried to pull it over his head. He was tiny and squirming. I was nervous! I’d always wanted to be a mama and here I was, scared to hurt my baby–and really didn’t know how to handle dressing him!

“Go on,” the nurse instructed. “He won’t break, I promise you!” And she bustled out of the room.

Somehow, I got him dressed and we were ready to go home. Now of course, he’s fully grown. Is a daddy. But I remember when he was a helpless babe. I keep a photo of him on my dresser and it keeps things in perspective for me. When I pray for him, I remember once upon a time, he needed me. Now, he’s very capable and doesn’t need my ministrations, but I’ll always remember him as a baby and know that little person inside is still there somewhere. The tiny baby in the photo reminds me he still needs my prayers.

Just a little guy of two months old here.

And there’s my second-born, a daughter, Erika. I was much more confident the second time dressing my baby to go home from the hospital. I keep a photo that I can see every day of her as a seven-year old. Each time I see it, I smile. She is all grown up and a mommy of a nearly nineteen year old now. But that photo reminds me she needs my prayers, too.