Jessie Wilcox Smith (1863-1935) achieved widespread success as an illustrator of children's books and popular magazines. Smith attended private schools in Philadelphia prior to being sent to Cincinnati. In Cincinnati, she prepared to work as a kindergarten teacher. She displayed no interest in art as a child, and did not grow up in an artistic family. At age 31, Smith was accepted as a pupil at Drexel Institute of Arts and Sciences. She became America's premier female illustrator during her lifetime.
Jessie Wilcox-Smith never married. Her longing for a family and children of her own can be seen in her paintings and illustrations. But, she didn’t wallow away in her sorrow. She reinvented herself and bloomed where she was planted.
Little purple pansies, touched with yellow gold,
Growing in one corner of the garden old;
We are very tiny but must try, try, try
Just one spot to gladden, you and I.
In whatever corner we may chance to grow,
Whether cold or warm the wind may ever blow,
Dark the day or sunny, we must try, try, try
Just one spot to gladden, you and I.Just like little purple pansies, each of us is stuck in the dirt. Our roots run deep and are entangled with those of our family’s. Some say that we are trapped, but we know it’s better to be firmly rooted instead of being tossed to and fro and ending up far from our goals.
What is our goal? To raise our children to be happy, well balanced adults. We want to work ourselves out of a job! We want joy in serving, loving and teaching our children.
May I suggest three ways to tend our gardens:
1. Nurture your seedlings.
2. Know the difference between tending your garden and weeding.
3. Fill your own bucket before you try to fill others’.
NURTURE YOUR SEEDLINGS
The true joy of a gardener is watching her seedlings grow. These tender young plants are ready to soak up what is given to them. As the mom, our job is to create a green house where our seedlings will feel warm and safe. We want to fill it with nutrients so that our children will be strong and confident when they get planted somewhere else
Susan W. Tanner said, “Homemaking skills are honorable and can help us spiritually as well as temporally. Making a home appealing physically will encourage loved ones to want to be there and will help create the kind of atmosphere that is conducive to the Spirit.”
TENDING YOUR GARDEN VS. PULLING WEEDSEach of us has been divinely appointed to be a mother. It is our eternal calling. Some lose sight of that fact and begin looking at motherhood as just a job.
I’m just a mom. This statement is heard way too much and the attitude of being a mom is turning sour. Remembering that we are called to care and nurture seedlings helps us glorify our responsibilities. We’re able to find more joy in our day to day lives.
I found this list of traits and characteristics to succeed in our calling as mothers:
• Deep and ongoing commitment
• A wellspring of energy
• Frequent leaps of faith and hope
• Self-esteem and confidence
• Openness to learn from mistakes
• Abundant tolerance
• The belief that this is your life’s work
• A very tough skin
• Flexibility to change
FILL YOUR OWN BUCKET BEFORE YOU TRY TO FILL OTHERS’You won’t be able to water your seedlings very well if you’ve neglected to water yourself. It’s hard to bloom where you’re planted if your head is in the mud. To create an award winning garden, the first thing you must do is develop the strength to work. Here is a three-step plan that will help build our Mom Muscles:
1. Make a “Barbell List.” Make a list of things you’d love to do. Use sentences like “It would be so much fun to (insert fun activity here),” or “I’ve always wanted to explore (insert interesting hobby, ideas or places here). Your goal is to let your inner voice have a chance to say what would fill your spirit.
2. Add some “Nurturing Boosters.” Make a list of smaller self-care habits to supplement your days. Include things like taking a bubble bath or meeting a friend for lunch. Come up with lots of ideas; you’ll be picking something from this list each and every day.
3. Make time for a regular “Workout.” Take your lists and get to work! Schedule 30 minutes in your day to read a book. Schedule a Saturday to learn those faux painting techniques. Promise yourself that you’ll put in the time and effort to fill your own bucket.
As our children out number us or grow taller than us, we need to constantly revise our duties as the mom. Taking care of ourselves and feeding our spirit’s cravings will help us to quickly adjust to others’ needs. Remember to create ideal growing conditions with your skills as a homemaker. And last, but not least, do not forget what you’re working towards. Keep a broad perspective when digging in the ditch and you will have joy in your garden.
