A MOM. The most joyous, stressful, amazing, and crazy title ever. Being a mom is a full time job. We are mom, teacher, cook, house cleaner, chauffeur, doctor, and our kids safety. We work 24 hours a day 7 days a week, with many years of no sleep. As mom’s we often seem to second guess our self, even the most perfect mom wonders if she is doing a good job. Are my kids well behaved enough, is my house clean enough, am I loving enough, do I cook dinner enough, am I a good enough wife, and do I spend enough time with my kids. Enough for who??? Enough for you, your husband, your kids, or God? Who is it you are really enough for or are you comparing yourself to the “ideal” mom who in all reality does not exist. God created each of us unique and special made perfectly in His image. Each of us has a special set of gifts talents and abilities. We are not created to be the same. God gave me my kids cause I was the mom for them and he gave you your kids because you were the mom for them. God does not make mistakes.
For me it is easy to give my husband and my children grace. To just simply say oops, and move on. But for me oops has been a very hard word to learn to give myself. My house isn’t perfect.. oops. We ate pb&j for dinner… oops. I rewashed the load in the washer 4 times… oops. I’m covered in boogers, out in public… oops. I forgot to brush my teeth… oops. My kids watched tv for hours… oops. I didn’t play with my kids at the park, I just watched… oops.
I’m not saying we throw away our responsibility, or ignore what God has placed in front of us. As mom’s we are called to care for our husbands, children and home. What I’m suggesting is we are not called to be perfect. Sometimes we just have a bad day, or an off week. Its ok. Give yourself the grace to make mistakes and not be perfect. To be just who God created you be and nothing more. The Bible say there is a time for everything. Sometimes we clean, some days we just play, some days we need a break. Its OK.
Life is about finding your groove, not the groove of another mom, your groove. We need to be focused on our God given priorities instead of ALL the stuff we want to be involved in. For me right now my job is a stay at home mom and wife. My priorities are God, me, husband, and children. Everything else comes later. We wear ourselves thin and find ourselves exhausted trying to give ourselves to too many things, we think if we give ourselves equally to all things we are doing good when in turn we only need to give to our God given priorities. When my focus is to seek first His kingdom and rely on Him for wisdom things work out well. But when I seek my kingdom and want to do it all and have it all things never work out. Its ok to say no to the good stuff to make way for the God (great) stuff.
So mom’s. give yourself grace. Love you the way Christ loves you. Give yourself permission to be perfectly imperfect. Do not compare yourself to anyone, but see you as God made you. Learn to say oops and give yourself a break once in awhile.
“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. Christopher Robin to Pooh”
This is one of my favorite quotes of all times. We are so much braver, stronger, and smarter if we could just live and see ourselves the way Christ does. We have what we need in our hands, God has already given it to us.
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”
Another amazing quote. We were made to stand out in this world not fit into it. We were made to walk a different life shining Gods light, flavoring the Earth. How much more peace could we find if we all as mom’s just took a deep breath and focused on building our kids up in the Lord rather than having a perfect house, looking perfect, or being put together.
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.
Each of us have a gift tap into that gift and use it.
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
Christ is in us and when we surrender his power does work best in our weekness. His grace is all we need.
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Help when we need it most.