Is there a more daunting task than mommyhood?

Is there any other arena where we compare ourselves to death more?

This is the job where we’re continually trying to just be good enough or (biting my lip)…just make it. Exhausted and worn to the bone. You can’t be good enough to earn the title of good mommy. We’re always falling short of glory.

You completed the craft with them, but lost your temper. You helped them learn to sing their ABCs but spent too much time on social media. You cleaned the house, but missed their curious chatter. You made them dinner, even let them help, but you have lost the feeling of love. You’re worn thin, worn out.

And you still have to decorate for Christmas.

A season of joy, hope…it is supposed to be. Filled with beauty and it is. But the beauty I want I can’t pick up from Target. I can only receive. The ornaments may shine, and I am glad. The tree may twinkle and it brings a sweetness, but the only sweetness that can be tasted by another is the honey dripping from the Word through my life and tongue.

There is beauty to be had…and it shines forth from Zion. In Him all the fullness of God dwells bodily. He picked up his own tree and carried it to the top of a hill to make you a city on one, to reflect the brilliant wonder of God with your life, in your mothering.

There are people everywhere telling you what you should and should not do. Creating mass panic…butterflies seizing our tummies, frantic in mind, flailing about trying to do, well, everything perfectly, like that’s even possible… in constant terror that if I do or say the wrong thing my kid is DOOMED (smile big).

We don’t say all of this out loud, because people would think we’re weird. And we are weird because we have this mounting grace of God set before us and we still haven’t figured out we can seize that grace by faith in the only One who can save kids anyway. Or maybe it’s the Grace trying to seize us as we run madly about…yeah, that’s more likely.

For of His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

John 1:16

Your kids aren’t doomed; you’re just not that powerful. The grace of God overcame our imperfect parents and it can overcome you! God-given influence to shape the life of your little one(s), you have in full measure, that’s undeniable and a gift. We are to impress the Word of God on them. To make it so, there is no question as to Whom we love and serve.  We just aren’t “god” to anyone though. Could that be freeing? I kind of think so.

We don’t have win everyone’s approval ratings to receive the favor of God and to trust Him with that which is most dear to us.

We keep performing, striving, trying so hard to do everything right, but that just isn’t the Gospel! I’m relieved, because I am not perfect. I read my Bible morning after morning; it’s the sweetest discipline of grace, but in the next moment I can be losing my temper, so easy to forget…so fast! My children though aren’t relying on a perfect mommy; we have a perfect God. That’s enough.

We’re not trying to be each other and live up to our own flawed expectations.  There is this Word…that comes freeing us, teaching us how to live. There is this mounting grace…overcoming our every imperfection. This is the Good News…Jesus. The One who died on the tree and lived again. We can raise these children toward Jesus and let God be God to them.

The only approval you need…open your soul to receive as a gift from Christ. That is what the coming season needs…more gift receivers. Receivers are the only ones with something to give away.