The Best Mother-in-law Ever. I hope.

Hey, it's been a while.  Life.  So this past weekend, I had the privilege of attending a 15th birthday party, also known as her quince, of a friends daughter.  It was a beautiful experience.  Yes, I did the Cupid Shuffle and the Macarena but that's not all that made it fun.  Before I begin to explain why this was so significant for me, I need to back up a bit.  

When I was a young girl, I knew I wanted to be a mother.  I began taking mental notes at about the age of 10 and titled my mental list, "The Best Mother Ever."  I would note when I saw a mother do something sweet for her daughter, including mine.  I would note when a mother would do something not so sweet to her daughter.  I watched, listened, and compiled a long list of do's and don'ts. To this day, I refer to that list.  After this weekend, and all the beautiful and symbolic words spoken and gifts given, I've decided to begin compiling a new list and title it, "The Best Mother-in-law Ever".  I know that in-law relationships can be difficult complicated complex interesting.  I can only imagine what it must be like for a mother to give her child her heart to someone else and trust that person to protect them, love them, serve them, adore them, like she does.  I'm sure it's difficult.  So that's why I've started my list; to prepare myself for the day I will give my child my heart away.

1. I will love and accept my daughter-in-law/son-in-law like they are my very own.  And I mean that with all sincerity in my heart.

2. I will expect to see my child change and be changed over the course of their marriage.  I will remember that God is going to use their spouse to mold them into who He wants them to be and they may not look like the child I raised.  And that must be ok.

3. I will give my daughter-in-law a symbolic gift before her wedding day, to represent me handing over my son to her, realizing that she will now rule her own household/husband and I will respect that.

4. I will give my son-in-law a symbolic gift before he takes my daughter, to wish him luck with my baby girl ruling their household.  LOL!  

5. I will respect my in-laws as parents.  I will ask permission.  I will earn their trust.  I will obey their wishes.

And did I mention, I will love them like my very own children?  Well, I will.

6. I will pray for them.  I will pray for our relationship.  I will pray for all the ways I fail them as a mother-in-law, that God make up the difference so that our relationship with glorify Him.  I will also pray with them; I pray with my kids and that will now include them.

I'm sure there's plenty more to come but for now, I'm satisfied with this list.  I do so want to be a wonderful mother-in-law who is a blessing to her children; natural born and given by marriage.