Birthday and Mother's Day and Mom-Guilt

My birthday and Mother's Day are within a few days of each other and my hubby's birthday is a few days before mine so there is a lot of celebrating around this time of year. To be honest, my birthday and Mother's Day are the two days of the year that I tend to cringe a bit. I don't like parties for me or a fuss to be made or for people to go out of their way to do something for me. I'm an introverted homebody and I never want to impose on anybody at anytime. I love to celebrate others but when it comes to myself, I'd rather wrap up in a blanket on the couch with a book or movie and a hot cup of something in a quiet house than go to a party for myself. I'm getting anxious just thinking about it! ha!

Anyhoo, with my birthday just passing and Mother's Day approaching, it has me facing all the feelings of mom-guilt and failures much more than normal. I see or read about so many other mom's that look forward to Mother's Day and how they feel like mothers deserve that day for all that they do, day in and day out, and yet all I can do is think of all the reason I don't deserve it. Granted, I am a pessimist so there ya go! (and I'm beginning to wonder if I'm also a bit of a perfectionist as well, but that's a whole other story I suppose)

 I was just talking to one of my sweet mama-friends about our mutual difficulty in receiving love and celebration on Mother's Day. I was telling her that last year was my very first time really enjoying that day without all the guilt, which was so beautiful and so freeing to just receive love from my precious children and husband. It was truly a gift from the Lord because it goes against my natural feelings and thoughts. The truth of it is though, and what I was telling my friend, is that the Lord has chosen me, and chosen you, to be the mamas to our children. Nothing is accidental when it comes to God's design. He didn't make any mistake in putting us on this journey of motherhood. We are CHOSEN by the Creator of all things to raise and love and care for and bless and nurture and wake up in the night with and change their little bums and wash their clothes and pray for their little hearts and hold their little hands AS they hold our hearts. 

My children and this adventure of motherhood is my dream come true, even though it looks totally different than what I expected it would. It's so much harder and so much better. It is such a revealer of my heart and flesh and sin and giftings and shortcomings all smoosh together. But that beautiful verse that says He is strength in our weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:9) gives me hope that He has indeed called me to this wonderful thing of being a mama. 

So this Mother's Day, pray that you can be gentle to yourself and that you can really receive all that your kiddos do for you, whether big or small. It's not only freeing for your own soul but it is so good for your children to see you accept their love for you as well!

When you feel discouraged or start listing off the times you messed up, remember that the grace of God is HUGE and covers you completely and that you have been called to be their mama for a reason! 

"bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ"

2 Corinthians 10:5

Happy Mama's Day !

lovelove,

Abs