That Mama

Hey, baby boy, hey...it's your mama here.

I'm not the one who carried you.

Not the one who looks like you.

Not the one who held you first.

No, buddy, I'm not that mama.

I'm not the one who shares your blood.

Not the one whose smile matches yours.

Not the one who heard your first cry.

No, buddy, I'm not that mama.

I'm not the one who nursed you first.

Not the one who wondered whose eyes you have.

Not the one who saw that first sleepy smile.

No, buddy, I'm not that mama. 

I'm not the one who chose life for you.

Not the one who found herself in an impossible situation.

Not the one who made the terrifying but selfless choice to give you a better life.

No, buddy, I'm not that mama.

I'm not the one who watched from afar to be sure you were found quickly.

Not the one who left you in a very public place, assuring your safety.

Not the one who tearfully walked away from her beloved son.

No, buddy, I'm not that mama.

I'm the one who will soon become family.

The one who will work hard to earn your trust, ever so slowly and patiently. 

The one who will watch you leave behind all you've ever known.

Buddy, I'm that mama.

I'm the one who will fight for you, always.

The one who will teach you how to love and be loved in return.

The one who will tell you your story as often as you want to hear it.   

Buddy, I'm that mama.

I'm the one who will make mistakes...lots of them.

The one who will ask for forgiveness and teach you how to ask for it, too. 

The one who will try to teach you right from wrong.

Buddy, I'm that mama.

I'm the one who will take far too many pictures and keep all (okay, most) of your preschool masterpieces until you're 30.

The one who will drop you off at your first day of Kindergarten.

The one who will watch you hit your first home run. 

Buddy, I'm that mama.

I'm the one who will dry your tears when a girl breaks your heart.

The one who will help you find a way to stand up for the friend being picked on.

The one who will teach you to follow hard after Jesus.

Buddy, I'm that mama.

I'm the one who will encourage you to love learning.

The one who will help you with your homework.

The one who will watch you walk across that stage at high school graduation.

Buddy, I'm that mama.

I'm the one who will never take it for granted that you are a gift to our family.

The one who will never stop marveling at a God who fit you perfectly in a family 7,000 miles away from your birthplace.

The one who will never stop trying to make your first mama proud.

Because buddy, I'm your forever mama.

And what a blessing that is.