The never ending dance of comforting, wiping, disciplining, loving. Trying to control your temper when you are met with an unexpected mess of toys all over the living room, or when your oldest gives you attitude over a simple request. Struggling to keep up with the demands of housework and small human beings.
Correcting ugly attitudes in your children while trying not to display your own towards them. Days resulting in tears and wanting to pull your hair out.
Being molded and shaped into the person God wants you to become, even while you are molding and shaping their young minds and hearts…
One exhausting minute at a time.
This is mothering. This is our calling, and our great opportunity to depend on God in continual prayer.
The beauty of not knowing what you are doing and knowing you are not qualified for a task is the desperation to stay connected to God who does know. You know the saying: He doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. If I appear as though I am doing anything well, I assure you, I am not doing it in my own strength.
I’ve had more than my fair share of times when I come to the end of myself. But, ironically, I’ve discovered that’s exactly where God wants me to be.
By trying to hold it all together in vain, I have just made more of a mess of things. When I admit to Him that I am at my wits end and can’t do anything in my own strength, that is the best position to be in as far as He is concerned.
The Lord says His power is made perfect in my weakness, and that His grace is sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12:9). I don’t like admitting weakness or failure to anyone.
But the truth is, my biggest disappointments and struggles can especially point me to Jesus, because they serve as reminders of how much I need a Savior.
I will never have enough time, energy, patience or love for my kids. Trying harder is not the answer; surrender is.
Sometimes everywhere we look, we see imperfection, mess, and defeat. But God sees an opportunity to make beauty out of ashes.
To make peace out of chaos. To bring us to a place of complete surrender, where we stop boasting in our accomplishments.
Too often I gain satisfaction in the cleanliness of my home and the obedience of my kids, when Psalm 62:1 says my soul should “find rest in God alone.” Keeping to-do lists and correcting my children’s behavior are good and necessary things, but if I’m looking to them as a way to control everything instead of relying on God, then they have become idols.
As moms, when we reach the point of wanting to wave the white flag, that’s the perfect time to invite Jesus into the chaos of our everyday lives.
When nothing seems to be going the way we want, and the house is a wreck. When we’re broken-hearted over that child’s rebellious attitude. When we’re plagued with doubts whether we are doing the best job of parenting, and maybe even filled with guilt or anxiety.
Lay it all down at His feet. The waves and wind still know His name, as the song goes.
Jesus meets us out on that deep water, dear mama. When we feel like we are drowning in responsibilities, He reaches out and grabs our hand to keep us from sinking. He will lift our head above the mighty waves- we just have to be willing to show up to do our work for His glory, day after day (after day).
This post is linked up over at Blogger Spotlight on Raising Fairies and Knights
You are so right, even when we don’t know what we are doing, the Lord walks before us paving the way if we allow him to.
I am so glad He does! Thank goodness we don’t have to have this mothering thing all figured out on our own. 🙂
Mothering is something I have not experienced. I am very active in my nieces life. Even as an Aunt it hurts my feelings when they do not appreciate my hard work and efforts. Love them I do!
That’s great you are so active in the lives of your nieces, and they have another female role model to look up to!
I am definitely a mom who has to wave the white flag some days! I am homeschooling my oldest (5) while I have a 2 year old and 8 month old running (or crawling) around. It is definitely not easy but I KNOW God is using these years to sanctify me and for that I am grateful.
Yes, God is using these early homeschooling years to refine me for sure! It’s amazing how much I’ve learned to rely on Him through it. Teaching a seven-year-old and four-year-old at the same time definitely tests the limits of my patience.
God is there for us in the good times and the bad–especially during the valley moments. He is definitely there to help parents manage the care of the little souls He has placed in our care.
Oh man had to share this! So many moms try to be super mom, but asking for help once in a while never hurts. Everyone needs to recharge.
Thanks for sharing it with others, Hyla! Yes it makes all the difference when we ask for help from God. 🙂
Wow..what a beautiful reminder… thanks for sharing 🙂
You’re welcome, Daisy! I’m glad you were encouraged.
This is a beautiful post. I love when you said “You know the saying: He doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.”. Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’m at the end of my rope. Often times I realize that means I need to connect with God more. I ask Him for the ability to be a mother and wife daily, because somedays are harder than others. This post is very encouraging. Thank you for sharing!
I’m so glad it spoke to you right where you’re at. Even though we don’t have what it takes on our own to parent, God is all too willing to lend us His strength and grace if we just ask!