Today I want to share a devotion from my “Notes to My Mama Friends” devotion pack. If you’re not a mom, there’s still a lesson from this story for you too, so keep reading!
Keep Going
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
James 1:2–5 NIV
When I have a hard time being a mom, I’ll put myself in “Mommy Time-Out.” I escape to a mother’s sanctuary—the bathroom—and lock the door.
One particular day I went to my time-out sobbing, because I didn’t know what else to do. My three-year-old daughter had blatantly disobeyed me all morning. Her one-year-old brother had made messes in every room of the house. I was on the last week of breastfeeding him, which didn’t help matters, because my hormones were all over the place. I was mentally tired and my patience waned. I put him in the crib and fled to the bathroom.
Behind the locked door my tears would not stop. In the midst of weeping, I cried out, “God, being a mom is so hard. I’m such a failure. How can I do this?”
A short while later my daughter found my hiding place and knocked on the door.
“Mommy, I have a sticker for you,” she announced.
“Okay, honey. I’ll be out in a minute,” I said, trying to shoo her away.
But she persisted and the conversation repeated a few more times. Bothered, I eventually opened the door and saw that she had placed the sticker on my bathroom mirror.
As I approached it, I noticed she had found the box of stickers I had purchased when she was potty training. They had stars with sayings like, “You’re Number 1!” or “Go for it!”
The sticker she had chosen for me said, “Keep Going!” Of all the sayings in the box, she unknowingly picked the one I needed the most.
I broke out into tears again. What an answer to prayer that sticker represented! It reminded me that I don’t have to know all the answers in this motherhood journey. I just have to keep going, one day at a time, one moment at a time. I scooped her up in my arms and held her tight, grateful for the prayer she helped to answer.
When I find myself in that place again, wondering how to get through the day with the demands of raising children, I remember that sticker. I pause, take a deep breath, and I keep going.
God sees and knows it all, friends. He knows the hardships you face at work, at home and in your relationships. He knows how tired you are and when you feel discouraged. You don’t have to know all the answers on how to get through the tough things of life, you just need to cling to Him and keep going.
I hope you have a wonderful day honoring your mom and for many of you, also celebrating your role as a mother.
Moms, know that you are doing a great job! We often doubt ourselves and focus on all the ways we struggle. We don’t give ourselves credit for the many things we do get right. Today, rest in this truth: there’s no way to be a perfect mom, but there are so many ways to be a good mom. Keep going, Mama Friends, you’re amazing!
P.S.
If you’re interested in purchasing a “Notes to My Mama Friends” devotion pack, you can find it here.