Happy Mother’s Day, mamas! Though this is a difficult time for some, this is undeniably a time to reflect on the joyful possibilities of this title. No one is perfect, and motherhood looks different for each and every woman who holds the title and for each child, young or old, who experiences their influence.
I’ve spent the last two years experiencing motherhood for the first time as a mother. From our realization of our conception until today, watching Calia toddle through the grass, I am utterly and irrevocably changed.
God loves to use parenthood as an opportunity to not only show us how to reveal His love to others through our own manifestations of it, but to reveal how much He loves us, the moms and dads, too.
God teaches us through motherhood
Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 18:3-4 NLT
Desiring God’s Word
No matter what’s on our child’s plate, they somehow seem 1000x more interested in what’s on ours—even if it’s the same thing. We all handle it differently, but their desire to experience what we’re eating more than what they have as their own is undeniable.
God wants us to want His food.
As our Heavenly Father, God has abundant, infinite food for us. He never minds sharing it with us. We should desire His food over our own and consume it as much as possible.
Ensure your food is worth sharing with your children.
In that same vain, no matter what we’re consuming, it should be something worthy of passing on to our children. Guard your eyes and ears, because what goes into you has a habit of coming back out of you and affecting those around you.
It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”
Matthew 15:11 NLT
God’s grace can’t be beat.
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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT
If we forgive our own children so easily, as imperfect as we are, accept how much more and how perfect God’s ability to forgive us is.
I get frustrated sometimes, but it amazes me how little I find myself frustrated to the point of actual anger with our girl. Now, I only have one and she isn’t talking yet. So, hey, I can’t speak into the future and say she won’t try my patience more when she can argue back. But. Our girl has already shown that she can ignore us when she wants to and defy us if it suits her. She’s one, y’all. And yet. My love and interest in her wellbeing outweighs the feelings of offense. That, in part, is how I was loved as a child. But, more-so, it is because of how God’s transformed my heart, already. He’s shown me something of utmost importance.
Once saved, you’re never going to do something God won’t forgive you for.
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32 NLT
You’re already forgiven and God won’t hold a grudge. Sometimes it’s hard to accept that kind of unconditional, unrelenting love. We reject it because it’s foreign to us and makes us feel weird. We feel like we owe a debt that needs to be repaid before we can be “right” with God again. Now, yes, repentance is vital to reestablishing our connection with the Holy Spirit so we may really hear God clearly and consistently again—but not because God left. In fact, it is because in our shame, we hide from God and our own inner voices, full of anxiety, denial, and fear shout over God’s voice. To silence those voices, we must accept that God’s forgiven us and get back up.
There’s a point to the pain.
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.
2 Corinthians 1:3-8 NLT
Our girl’s always been a go-getter physically. She rolled over for the first time at three months and immediately started trying to crawl. She started pulling herself up on tables and chairs at 4.5 months, crawling at 6 months, climbing stairs at 7 months, standing without aid at 10 months and, finally, walking two days before her birthday.
Home girl’s hurt herself…a lot.
Once, crawling while tired, she dropped down onto her chin and jammed one of her teeth back into her gums (OWWWWW). She cried a whole new way that day.
We’ve been there nearly every moment and prevented many ugly falls. But, you just can’t stop every hurt or every fall. I have no doubt that a lot of her accelerated physical achievement comes from learning through the falls, the trips, and hits, the pain. There’s something about pain that sticks with us even if we don’t have the memory. It very clearly serves to show us what not to do again. And, as mamas, it’s not just our job to keep them safe physically. It’s our job to show them how to ride out the pain, learn from mistakes, and improve decision-making skills.
God isn’t going to prevent every hurt because He knows better than to coddle us.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
Psalm 147:3 NLT
God’s guidance isn’t fencing you in, it’s fencing danger out.
On that note, when our children venture off on their own—even just a foot or two—they still have our voice. When their hand lets go of ours and they step out to explore the world…they have no idea the context of most of what’s around them. Even though we aren’t holding their hand, our voice can guide them to avoid the riskiest dangers.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,
John 10:27-28 NLT
I’ve warned Calia not to stumble into the thorns and to watch her step on rocky ground. To her, the thorns look new and the rocky ground looks like a challenge her wobbly knees just weren’t prepped for yet. I’ve sternly forbid her from picking up rusty nails and trash. To her, the rusty nails were a pretty color and the trash was shiny and crinkly and fun.
We have no idea what the true, full context is of what we want, but God knows.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
In the same way we desperately want our children to trust our voice because we’ve been there, we’ve done that, we’ve learned the lesson… Can we not offer God the same trust? The Creator of the Universe knows absolutely everything about what He created and absolutely everything about what His creations have created. There is nothing He lacks perfect wisdom on. Yes, that job looks perfect. Yes, that guy is hot. But, if God says no, can we trust Him enough to walk away?
God’s always thinking of you.
When I finally get time to myself, I miss my daughter’s presence. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the time. But, I love her in my life. I wonder what she’s up to, if she’s well, if she knows I love her even though I’m not there.
The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant.
Psalm 25:14 NLT
With God, He is always with us. We can always acknowledge Him and include Him in everything. He has and always will acknowledge you and He wants to include you in His plans. He never has to wonder how you are, but He enjoys when we talk with Him. Prayer is any talk we have with God.
But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.
Psalm 66:19 NLT
Motherhood, at it’s best, costs me a willingness to give everything.
Loving cost God everything, and therefore we must also be ready to give it all at any moment to manifest that same manner of love. Though the bill may never say “everything,” our willingness to love in a godly way means we are willing to do whatever it takes.
This may mean pausing your business dream, losing your figure, or giving up dairy (oh man, it was so hard).
Sadly, for women without a relationship with God, this is often enough to deter any desire for children. Without God your provision is limited to what you can secure for yourself and therefore having a child costs you everything and you definitely can’t plot and plan enough to get it all back.
It works for some, it fails for some. For some women, that uncertainty isn’t worth it. For others, the failure destroys their life.
But, God.
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 NLT
With God, we can trust that when there is a cost it is really an investment into a richer outcome. He is weeding our garden to make room for the plants that will truly thrive, that He always intended for our soil.
There is a comfort we can cling to when we experience a cost. There is a level of becoming worth the challenges.
God’s got this, mama.
It is scary. It is thrilling, It is beautiful. It is ugly. It is messy and cute and comforting and uncomfortable and inspiring and trying.
Yet He made you for this and in His capable hands, you can become a version of yourself that astounds yourself and the world and glorifies God. A version of yourself that supports beautiful children, no matter their struggle. If we only just cling to Him and give Him full reign.
Surrender your children and your motherhood, your entire being, to God.
“God, we’re Your responsibility. We trust You. You won’t mess this up.”
And mean it. And live it. And walk it.
And celebrate the fruits of your labor of love, dear mama friend.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Build up your fellow moms by sharing this post. 💕
