Mothers Get a Glimpse
From the moment we hold them to the years we watch them grow, we look at our children and wonder if they will ever realize how much we love them, even if we say it to them every day for the rest of their lives.
The first smile is a gem, and a giggle is music to our ears. We rock them to sleep, carry them around on our hips while we do chores. We treasure the moment when they stretch their arms to be held close, because a day will come when they no longer want to be held.
After sleepless nights, ‘round the clock feedings, spit up, and changing hundreds of diapers, we somehow muster the energy to do it all over again the next day.
We are the boo-boo fixers, kiss the tears away and make it all better mommies. Daily routines are snacks, playdough in the carpet, and us sneaking out of the room in a military crawl as they’ve just fallen asleep for a nap…hoping they won’t see or hear you leave the room.
After bedtime stories and a tight tuck into bed, their sleeping face reminds us again of how much we love them. It’s surreal to think that this is only a fraction of the love that God has for all of us as His children…but mothers get a glimpse.
“Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” ~Psalm 36:5
Moms, Give Yourself Grace
Being a mom pretty much requires you to become a one-person circus act. We’re stirring the stew with a toddler tugging on our shirt, checking sports schedules for the week for the older ones, filling medication organizers, running to doctor appointments, meal planning, grocery shopping, cleaning up spills, and turning the dryer on to fluff the load of laundry that’s been in there for two days. And then there are the other careers outside of the home.
But one of the hardest things we do to ourselves is play the comparison game, often unknowingly. We run this rat race thinking that we must have it all done perfectly. The truth is, there aren’t enough hours in the day, even on our best day.
As fun and entertaining as it is, we have HGTV reminding us that our house should look nicer and have gourmet meals on the table. Or we observe other moms doing it better than we are, or so we think.
I’ve heard some moms tell me they wish they had stayed home with their children instead of pursuing a career and vice versa.
Sister, playing the comparison game is from the enemy. The only thing it accomplishes is depleting your worth.
God made you a mother, and you are worthy. Jesus gifts us all with talents, passions, strengths and weaknesses. Embrace them all, His plan is divine.
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…”
~Romans 12:6
The Sacrifice is Worth It
When you find yourself giving up the last homemade brownie for your child…that’s some true motherly love. Let’s face it, this is only a drop in the bucket of what we surrender when we become moms, but it’s worth it.
We sacrifice…
…our sleep when they’re young.
…more sleep waiting up to hear them arrive safely at home when they’re teens.
…our time, raising them to become good human beings.
…our physical energy – we carry them around on our hips, then graduate to the hamster wheel of extracurricular activities.
…material things. The shopping sprees are sparse, because we’re on a budget so their needs are met.
…our appearance. While they’re young, days between hair washing grows rapidly from the busyness. Manicures and pedicures are something we only dream of.
…our social life is put on hold to care for them during the growing years.
…our sanity! They drive us crazy at times, give us gray hairs and send us into a tizzy of worry.
But the sacrifice is worth it.
It’s hard.
It’s exhausting.
It’s rewarding!
It’s joyful.
It’s up to us to model the unconditional love that Christ has given us. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for us, and I’m so glad He did.
And we selflessly share this with our children, and it’s worth it.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
~Philippians 2:3-4
The Forever Caregiver
Special circumstances require some moms to be a forever caregiver. The equation can be summed up to wheelchairs, feeding tubes, mechanical lifts, breathing treatments, nurses, therapies, surgeries, medications, helping them with life skills…and the list goes on.
We go extra miles.
We are their biggest advocate.
We attend annual educational meetings during their school years.
We wear many hats at home: nurse, therapist, teacher, scheduler…
We spend a lifetime worrying who will take care of them if something were to happen to us.
We spend countless hours on the phone advocating for their healthcare benefits.
Respite is warranted, but hard to come by.
Some days we’re barely making it from physical and mental exhaustion, and we wonder how we’ll make it the next day.
So often, we feel isolated.
We’re in the trenches for them and with them, as God is for us!
Dearest mammas, no matter how difficult the circumstances, you’re not alone. We have our Lord in the trenches with us. We can lay down our burdens each night, knowing that He will never leave our side. He will renew our strength and lead our way each day through this season.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest in your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
~Matthew 11:28-30
Motherhood is Letting Go
Seeing senior pictures on social media lately by nostalgic moms is heartwarming, as I have my own child graduating as well. This pivotal year reminds us of moments when they were young and would cling to us. We’ve nurtured them through growing pains, loved them through their teen attitudes, and now see them into adulthood when we send them on their way.
Even after they become adults, every now and then, we still see them as that adorable little bundle of sweetness, the one who made us smile, laugh, and cry tears of joy. But our relationship morphs into a friendship we can cherish forever.
We raised them, all along knowing we would have to let them go. Our focus shifts from being the keeper of all things, to cheering and praying for them from afar.
We have hopes now that when they leave us, they come back to visit. There isn’t much we wouldn’t for them. I can’t help but think that Jesus has the same hopes. He gives us freewill, and only hopes that we will come to Him.
As our nest becomes empty, we enter the new season of motherhood to our adult children.
Mothers, may you enjoy the precious moments with your bundles of joy, make memories during their growing years, love them through the tough teen years, and appreciate a new friendship as they become adults.
We’re blessed with the glimpse of Christ’s love, daily grace, His sacrifice, and understand that He is our forever caregiver.
Happy Mother’s Day to every mamma out there in whatever season you’re in!
“Her children rise up and call her blessed.”
Proverbs 31:28
