Mama we have faith in you

So Saturday I entered my Black Bean Pumpkin Soup in a soup cook-off at the Abingdon Farmers Market. Here's how it played out. At 12 mid-night, I finally got started. Got out the pumpkin, cut it up. Got out the onion, cut it up. Went to get the corn out of the freezer and couldn't find any. Went to the cupboard, didn't have any canned. OK just skip it. I continued to configure my soup masterpiece. When it was all said done it wasn't all that good. I forgot to strain the beans and to drain the tomatoes. So it was gritty and the color was horrific. In the morning I told the boys that the soup didn't really turn out and I was thinking about not entering it. They all cried "no mama, you have to, you could win $100.00. Mama we have faith in you". I figured it couldn't hurt to enter it and not win, rather then break their little hearts. As I turned it in I cringed just a little, thinking about how the judges(Townhouse and House on Main and the Mayor) were going to spit it out all over each other. With that visual I told the boys I just couldn't do it. Many little voices cried and whined," Mama please we have faith in you. We love you, and we LOVE your soup." At that I proudly stamped on my number ( ironically it was #1) and walked away. 30 min later I heard a voice coming toward me getting louder and louder, "mama you won, you won. I turned around and told Moses that that wasn't funny. As it turned out I HAD won and the judges loved the soup. One judge came up to me and told me it was great. He said he flavors were wonderful and he loved the pumpkin chunks. I was shocked and a little embarrassed. I had wanted to impress these judges and not those that mean the world to me. Those little boys that tasted the soup and said it was great, were all the judging that I needed. I had already won. The boys had no doubt that I would win the competition, not because they knew how great of a cook I am (wink,wink) but because they know that to them I am a great cook. They see the love I put into each meal, as if I were serving the King and his Princes, because I am serving MY King and MY Princes. So many mamas go looking for approval from friends, family and co-workers. Many times they feel like they are failing. Like we aren't enough. Like we could just do better only if.... I need to realize the only approval here on earth is my little guys. They always tell the truth, even if it's ugly. Even better is, they tell the truth even when it's GREAT.