Some moms are hard on themselves, and perhaps they should be. Perhaps there are areas where laziness or apathy has crippled them and they need a good kick in the pants.
Some moms are brutal on themselves, even when they’re doing their best. I believe it comes down largely to personality types as to how hard you are on yourself as a mom, but I have a hunch, all of us need the encouragement I’m about to offer.
Do you struggle with diligence? Do you struggle with patience? Do you struggle with stamina? Well, welcome to the club.
But don’t despair. The problem is not that you struggle. (The struggle is real.) The problem is that you let the struggle overtake you, discourage you and defeat you.
Let me tell you what one of the most important traits (you probably possess) is to your family:
Faithfulness.
Faithfulness is failing and trying again.
Faithfulness is sinning and repenting and forgiving yourself.
Faithfulness is getting up in the morning and embracing God’s new mercies.
Faithfulness is digging deeper, standing tall after a fall, gritting your teeth, even, and remembering that you have within you, a power greater than your enemy. Then standing that enemy up and reclaiming your territory.
Being a mother and wife isn’t about getting it right every day. It’s about faithfully seeking His face, faithfully loving your children, faithfully standing beside your husband, faithfully obeying God’s Word, and faithfully running the race that is set before you.
You cannot be perfect, but you can be faithful.
7 comments
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.This is a lovely way if thinking. I try so hard yet I seem to fail.I continue with Gods grace and I never give up .I often think I am just hopeless, but now I realize I am just very faithful.I feel a bit more positive now.Thank you for standing firm .God bless you and your wisdom.
Ah, thank you, Tina.
Thank you for this. I found it very encouraging.
This is such a great way to express what I have slowly embraced. I tend to be very self-critical and, as a wife & mother, that led to bouts of depression over the years. The Lord revealed to me that the Christian life is a battle, and I was giving up every time things didn’t go my way (or what I felt was His way). I wanted perfection (from myself & everyone around me), and anything less was a constant dissappointment. My “all or nothing” mentality would have me throwing up my hands in surrender again…not to the one who is faithful, but to the enemy. The Christian life is a battle, and every time we give up, we’re giving in to the destroyer. We’re giving the enemy a win. This is s battle and, just as God is faithful, we must be faithful to the fight. Never give up, never give in. Get up, dust yourself off, (repent,forgive, have faith) and charge back in there! Fight the good fight!!
Such great words, Cari.
I’ve never thought of it that way before. That’s why I love your blog. We’re so close in age, yet you seem so much wiser than I am. Thank you for these words of encouragement that all mothers should hear.
Shelly,
I seriously doubt that, lol. But I’m so glad you were encouraged.