A Mommy Moment

Well, I had a mommy moment the other night. I shared this on my breastfeeding blog, but wanted to share it here.
I must admit, I used to hate that people would get up and say "You never truly understand Heavenly Father's love for us until you have a child of your own." As someone who was TRYING to have children but couldn't it drove me nuts! I will admit, it still does. To someone who wants children and can't, or has not met their eternal companion yet, it is telling them that they can not truly appreciate Heavenly Father's love and plan for us. I completely disagree with this. I think you can understand this without having children.
What I think people MEAN to say is, your perspective changes when you have children. This is what has happened to me this Christmas season. I am not suddenly "understanding" I am just seeing it differently.
Every song this Christmas that has to do with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus is bringing me to tears this Christmas. "Mary Did You Know", "Mary's Lullaby", and "Joseph's Lullaby" are the top culprits. Anything that talks about them just wanting to hold Him and cherish Him as their own and not think of what his future holds starts the water works.
A few nights ago, Grayson was particularly fussy due to teething. While trying to get him to sleep, I was nursing him while rocking. I began to sing to him "Silent Night" when the thought occurred to me. Mary probably had nights like this, nursing baby Jesus, while rocking and singing him to sleep. That did it. I could not fight back the tears. I tried to fight through my sobs to continue singing but could not do it. I finally had to take a moment and just cherish the thought that had come to my mind.
We are all entrusted with these precious little ones. Heavenly Father has given us each the WONDERFUL responsibility of raising HIS children here on Earth. Not just parents, but as a community. If you be an aunt, uncle, Sunday school teacher, school teacher, ANYBODY- you have this amazing role in a child's life. Like Mary was chosen to be the mother of the Savior, we are each chosen to play a role in the upbringing of those precious little ones around us. What a wonderful thought!
I already understood my Father's love for me, it isn't that my understanding has changed, it is just my perspective has changed a little.