I am so honored to be able to serve you. Being a mom is a tough job and I want you to know that you’re doing an amazing job! How do I know this? Because you’re actually being intentional about being the best mom you can be. Now get this: I didn’t say you were doing a PERFECT job. I didn’t say you accomplished everything you want to accomplish. I didn’t say that there aren’t things that fall through the cracks.
But I do want you to hear this:
Stop criticizing yourself for what you aren’t doing and celebrate the things you are doing. Look at how much your children have grown. Take a moment to appreciate your work. Your children entered this world totally dependent on you. Completely unable to do even the smallest task. Now look at them. You’ve had ALOT to do with that. It’s quite humbling when you consider the blessed work that we get to participate in as a mom.
Your best effort + God’s superabundant grace is enough.
You need to know that God’s grace is at work when you’re totally unaware of it. His grace is at work in the hearts of your children. As He speaks to your children. As He protects them. As He heals their wounds. As He brings other people into their lives to encourage, love and teach them. As He allows them to experience life circumstances that shape their character and reveal His presence in their lives. As He prepares them for their destiny.
So you don’t need to be afraid of messing them up.
I’ve learned that our Heavenly Father only requires us to be faithful. To show up everyday, to consistently do the work, yet totally depending on Him to complete the work He began in your children. This job of raising our children is accomplished day by day, moment by moment. Everyday you get up with the full intention of loving and serving your family as best you can. And often it seems like your best efforts aren’t enough. I know I often feel that way.
I often come to end of myself. I come to the end of my energy. I come to end of my abilities. I come to the end of my understanding. I come to the end of my patience. (Don’t you hate it when your kid gets on you LAST nerve!) I come to the end of ability to make decisions.
In those moments I have NO MORE TO GIVE! And yet… the needs of my family do not take a break. Dishes still continue to mount. Children continue to bicker. Dinner still needs to be made. Bills need to be paid. And so on.
When I come to this point, I ask for help or I let things the things that aren’t critical to our survival go undone. Life will go on just fine with dirty floors, uncombed hair, or a kid not completing a math lesson. I could try to push myself to keep going, but it usually results in me being an irritated mom who doesn’t serve her family well. I lose my perspective. I totally shift my priorities out of order. Though it looks as if I’m serving my family sacrificially, all I can think about is how all of these people are making my life so difficult. Life becomes about me because I’M AT MY WEAKEST. I’m not a good mom when I’m tired, frustrated and weak.
So I REST. I ask my husband for help. I take a walk. I tell my children that we’ll talk about that issue later. We eat something super easy for dinner.
It takes faith to rest.
It’s taken me 19 years of being a mom to realize that letting things go, isn’t being lazy. For years I listened to that critical voice that pointed out all of my shortcomings. That voice kept telling me to work harder. That voice told me over and over again that I was being lazy! I don’t listen to that voice anymore.
And I’ll be honest, when I hear another mom call herself lazy because of something she let fall through the cracks in parenting, I’m quick to call it out. Because it’s NOT true!
You’re not lazy! You’re just human.
You’re a wonderful, amazing human mom with limitations and your children are blessed to have you!
Moms, you need to accept and embrace your human limitations WITH NO GUILT! Instead call on the God of the Universe, our Heavenly Father for help. He is ready to unleash all of the resources of Heaven on your behalf.
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