Everyone has different feelings about Mother’s Day – pain, joy, hurt, thankfulness, bitterness, love. It’s a mixed bag, which is why I simply want to share my story.

If you’re a mother today and you’re reading this, allow my story to bless your heart. During my quiet time today, I realized something…

I grumbled. A lot. There wasn’t a place for anything and nothing was in its place – haha! My world forever changed the moment I became a mother. I struggled. And my perfectionistic tendencies didn’t help (Type 1)! I had to ask forgiveness for many things. Motherhood evolves constantly from conception to when you take your last breath. No one but God truly knows the sacrifices made. The tears cried. The feelings of failure. Sacrificing “self” on the altar is harder than it sounds. And for many moments, I was bitter. I was selfish. I haven’t “arrived,” but I’ve come a very long way.

It took time for me to realize how God’s gift was just that – a GIFT. Tiny humans that reflect who you are can show you so much about yourself, about God, and transform your perspective. The most wonderful thing it taught me, if I can share it with you, is how God sees US. Even as adults, we are still His children!

He wasn’t kidding when He said heaven was for those like little children (read Matthew 18:1-4). Children completely trust their parents. They jump off the swingset KNOWING their parent will catch them. That’s the type of trust we, as mothers, need with God. We know He will catch us. We know He will provide for us. We know He will love us unconditionally. We know He will speak truth in love to us. We know He will wipe our tears and that He cares for us more than we can fathom. Through motherhood, God showed me connections that I never would have made connections with before.

If you’re in a place today of exhaustion and bitterness, I urge you to think about God’s intention for you as a mother. The struggle can be suffocating at times, I know, but live life an hour at a time. Just one hour. Move forward. One hour. Move forward again. We aren’t going to get it right every day and that’s okay. And our struggles evolve, don’t they? But the more thankfulness and humility we offer, the more we can combat those thoughts of failure and inadequacy (we all have them!). Remember that God loves YOU as His child. And, knowing this, it catapulted me to action and reminded me to love my children as God loves them…and me!

Hang in there. Take a breath. Don’t give up. Take a step. Do the next right thing (thank you for that good advice, Frozen 2!).

Be blessed, loved ones. In your different walks of life, simply know God loves YOU as His precious child.

Galatians 6:9; Matthew 18:1-4; 1 John 3:1a; Luke 1:46-55; Romans 8:16-18; Isaiah 66:12-13; Colossians 3:17; Psalm 139.

©2020 Rachel D. Lyne