For all the Mothers out there this is for you. This was emailed to me today and was a huge encouragement.
I hope that you find encouragement in this to continue to build your Cathedrals too.
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I'm invisible.
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?"
I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?"
I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going ... she's going ... she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just returned from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean.
My unwashed hair was pulled up in a clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:
(1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.
(2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
(3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
(4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof?
No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees." I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
God Bless You as you build your Cathedrals!
-Author Unknown
oh that was just beautiful, thank you for that!
Posted by: Heather Prins | October 03, 2007 at 12:10 PM
I so needed that today...thank you!
Posted by: Allison | October 03, 2007 at 05:10 PM
How beautiful, I will pass it on for sure, than-you!
Posted by: Paola Norman | October 03, 2007 at 07:26 PM
I needed this (thanks).
Posted by: Karen Russell | October 04, 2007 at 06:15 AM
What an amazing story and so important to remember. I'm touched and plan to quietly continue building my "cathedrals". Thank you for this.
Posted by: Angie Grimm | October 04, 2007 at 07:50 AM
Beautiful
Posted by: josie walrath | October 04, 2007 at 08:20 AM
Awe inspiring. I feel so much better. Thank you so much for sharing this...Wow.
Posted by: Linda | October 04, 2007 at 08:21 AM
Thank you for this. It was inspiring and encouraging.
Greetings from Germany
Sabrina
Posted by: Sabrina aka beckermina | October 04, 2007 at 08:40 AM
Thank you for posting this... what a great reading.
Posted by: Casie | October 04, 2007 at 11:03 AM
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story.
Posted by: Kelly Jo | October 04, 2007 at 11:31 AM
Perfect timing. Thanks so much for posting this.
Posted by: Jen M. | October 04, 2007 at 08:55 PM
nice post.
Brother mike
Posted by: mike | October 05, 2007 at 08:13 PM
This is a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing it. Now to copy and paste so I can send it to a few Cathedral builders that I know.
=) Allison
Posted by: Allison | October 07, 2007 at 05:57 AM
Yes, this was amazing. I received "Cathedrals" a couple of weeks ago and promptly cried and shared it with several friends who also needed it just as much as I did.
Be blessed and at peace,
barb
Posted by: barb | October 08, 2007 at 09:14 PM
I was linked to your blog and am so glad to have read this post. And isn't it amazing how our lives are touced and helped by unsuspecting family and friends when we so need it. Thank you. Could you post the name of the book you received?
Posted by: Penny Nelson | October 15, 2007 at 06:30 AM
Ooohh!
Would you know that I felt so overwhelmed this morning, And when I got this forward, It's just like it was just removed from my shoulders...
THANK YOU!!!
Posted by: Mary Ann Soto | October 23, 2007 at 09:56 AM
I am going through some rough times with my teenagers. This came at a time when I wanted to throw in the towel. Thanks for great timing!!
Posted by: Michelle Smith | December 03, 2007 at 08:56 PM
GREAT post- thanks so much!
Posted by: Teresa | December 07, 2007 at 04:05 PM
What a wonderful story. There are still tears on my face. I am so moved by these words. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Renee | January 03, 2008 at 01:23 PM
It is better to live rich than to die rich.
-- Samuel Johnson
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