As we prepare for communion, I want to speak to biological mothers, adoptive mothers, Aunts, and the ladies who are committed to mentoring the younger generation using the amazing mothering powers that God has given.
First, I want to thank you for leading and loving those around you. Here is to the times you rock it out of the park! You can tie the hair bows, clean the dirty uniform in preparation for the next day's 8:00AM game, rub backs, take care of the child who wakes up vomiting at 1AM, provide encouraging spiritual council to the other child who just had a nightmare, make a breakfast that includes all major food groups, clean the kitchen, show up to church looking like you just spent the day at the spa and do all of this without yelling once while in the car.
But, some days you may feel like you will hardly be able to function. You look longingly for the energy just to get out of bed, to get a shower, and to have something to eat. You may wonder how in the world you can repeat this process in the days to come. You keep telling yourself the good intended advice that “the days are long but the years are short,” but that just seems to add to the guilt because you don’t feel you can compare.
Speaking of guilt, there seems to be a little "mommy guilt" that creeps in from time to time. It’s that self-doubt you may experience that is related to your perceived shortcomings in your ability to balance work, parenting, and personal life. It's the pressure, the internal and external judgment, and comparisons with others that bring feelings of failure that are sometimes more than you can bear.
Can anyone relate to falling into the comparison trap? If so, this time of communion is for you! When you sometimes feel less than amazing, I want you to remember some truths from Ephesians 1:5-6- In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us.
Through Jesus, God adopted you! No matter how bad you mess up, You are His!
Thanks to Jesus, You are forgiven! When you fall short in reality or when you get sucked into the comparison trap and can’t get away from the Mommy guilt. Remember, You. Are. Forgiven!
Thanks to Jesus, You can let go. Loosen your grip. You are redeemed! You are made new!
Would you pray with me?
