As you know, this weekend is Mother’s Day! Our celebrations may look different this year, but we can still celebrate!
Normally I enjoy going to church and lunch with my family and doing a fun activity, like bowling or going to a movie. Since we’re not able to do that, this year I asked my daughter to make a Victoria Sponge Cake and create a tea party for us.
I’m generally a pretty reflective person, but I usually feel it even more so this time of year. As a virtual gift to you this Mother’s Day, here is a list of five things I know about motherhood:
1. You don’t have to be perfect to be a good mom
In my motherhood journey, I’ve realized there is no such thing as the perfect mom! All moms mess up, make mistakes, and lose their cool sometimes. (Isn’t that comforting?)
Lysa TerKeurst says, “Bad moments don’t make bad moms.” The fact that you worry about not being a good mom should be proof enough that you are a good one! So often we worry about being the perfect mom that we overlook the ways we’re a good mom.
2. God’s grace and power are big enough for your shortcomings
Again, there’s no such thing as a perfect mom. We are all beautifully-flawed women in need of God to fulfill the roles and responsibilities He’s given us. He reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 that He fills in the gaps of our imperfections:
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
3. God grows us as we raise our kids
I thought raising children was all about teaching and maturing them, but I’ve learned that so much of it is also about our maturity process. I didn’t realize it initially, but there were (and still are) a lot of ways I needed to grow myself. About five years ago, I was so frustrated with motherhood and frustrated with how I often felt so angry. I was afraid of messing up my kids and decided to go to counseling. It was exactly what I needed in so many ways. God used my kids as the catalyst for me to seek help and healing.
4. Being a mom gives us opportunities every day to be more like Jesus
Right now, in this season of COVID-19, I’m finding that it’s harder for me to get work done because my kids are home. (It’s not unlike summer, but with the added responsibility of online school.) As I sit down to write, someone has a question. Or the kids are fighting and need a referee. Or it’s lunch time. The list of interruptions goes on and on.
But I’ve been reminded lately of how Jesus constantly poured out and served others. He loved well despite interruptions. He forgave. He wasn’t afraid of messy people and their brokenness.
Whenever we care for our children and serve them, we show them God’s love. Every day offers new opportunities for us to live this out.
5. Everyone is better when mom takes care of herself
Moms often feel guilty for spending time or money on themselves. We rationalize it by believing that we’re taking away from our families—but it’s actually the opposite! We’re investing in our families well when we invest in ourselves.
We don’t need to feel guilty for needing time away. Jesus spent time away during His ministry to be in relationship with His Father and to pray. I’m so thankful He modeled this for us!
It’s good for you to have time away, boundaries, work, healthy habits, hobbies, etc. You’ll feel refreshed and energized and will be able to continue pouring into your family well. It’s also great for you to model to your children that yes, you’re their mother, but you’re also a woman with her own needs and aspirations.
I’d love to know: What have you learned from being a mom?
Wishing you a very Happy Mother’s Day!
Don’t forget to sign up for Restore: Soul Care for Moms! We’re just one week away! You can watch the videos as scheduled or you can watch them on your own timetable until May 22nd. I’m so excited to put this together for you!
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