Yesterday I had the privilege of sharing a brief phone
conversation with one of my lifelong friends, Michelle. She is an amazing
mother of 4, ages 7-2. She is superwoman… homeschool mom, housewife, lover of
Jesus, and brilliantly talented artist. Yesterday, she had called to tell me
happy birthday and as we chatted we joked about being in our 30’s as if we were
becoming old ladies before our time. In the midst of our jest I paused and
stated I’m glad I’m getting older. You see, there is something beautiful about
getting older. In my “old” age I now have a chance to speak about being
younger. For Michelle and I and many other of my friends, this is something we
value so much. We realize the importance of having someone who has walked
before us, been the tired, exhausted mom of the newborn and toddler trying to
keep it all together and do it all alone. We, now, being “older” and wiser
realize the importance and life giving capability words have in seasons of
weariness and exhaustion.
So to the tired mommas out there…know that you are not
alone. I have been the weary mom, with the messy house, dirty laundry that
flows from every corner, dusty bunnies teasing me in every crevice, desperate
and exhausted. The weight of guilt over not engaging your children enough, to
the mess that seems to be everywhere, to the fact that you may or may not have
taken a shower in the last 5 days, to the fact that chicken nuggets and mac and
cheese may be on the menu 3 times in a week…YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!! Breathe…then
BREATHE again…NOW ONE MORE TIME. There is no perfect answer or schedule on how
to keep a clean house or on top of the laundry. Let go of the condemnation that
wears you down and keeps you there. Let go of the fear that your friends will
be totally disgusted by your mess. Stop feeling guilty over how bad a mom you
might be and delight in the fact that you have amazing kids, maybe a little
dirty or sticky, but amazing. Stop trying to do it all at once, and just do
what you can in a moment. Put down the facebook or iphone and look around. Look
into your children’s eyes and see the wonder and imagination that is there.
That little amazing person is yours, whether biologically or adopted, you
labored, prayed, and have believed God for them in unimaginable ways. Rejoice
in the gift that you have. A mess will keep and facebook will always be there
as far back as you want to go, but dear momma just breathe and see the beauty
that is before you. Relinquish the lies of the enemy who so desires to keep you
blinded and distracted from the beauty and opportunity that is right before
you. There is no formula or perfect procedure to being you, but don’t let
weariness, distraction, and guilt keep you from doing what God has gifted you
the right to do. Just breathe and then Breathe again. The mess will keep but
memories wait for no man.
Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"
