Motherhood. It’s heartwarming. It’s heart wrenching. It’s all about…Heart.
Dear Mama,
You always dreamed of being a mama.
As a little girl, you would pretend to be one and your dolls were your kids.
As you got older, you imagined what it would be like and even were bold enough to say, “I’ll get married by _____ and have kids by _____.” You were wrong on both accounts.
You got married. Later than you thought.
You became a mama. Later than you thought.
Everyone around you said you’d make a great mama. Encouraging, right?
Then the dream became a reality and you were grateful. So grateful.
Insert sleepless nights.
Insert irritable baby/child(ren).
Insert (self-imposed) pressures to do all and be all (at the same time!).
All of a sudden, you wonder(ed) if you were made for this. Because the internal ugliness that seems to be revealing itself is far from the person you want(ed) to be.
But the devil is a big, fat LIAR. God does not make mistakes.
GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES.
He who breathes life into you on a daily basis knew you before He formed you in your mother’s womb (see Jeremiah 1:5).
You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). And so is that child of yours.
He chose you for this child and chose this child for you.
You are equipped and empowered even in the moments when you feel ill-equipped and everything but empowered.
Seasons. Days. Years.
You are in a season. Every season serves a purpose. And seasons, dear friend, don’t last forever. Seek God above all else and He will reveal the beauty that is within each season.
Take each day as it comes. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. Don’t run ahead or dwell in the days that have passed. Be in the moment. He who is faithful will provide everything you need for today. 2 Corinthians 9:8
“The days are long but the years are short.”-Gretchen Rubin
When you feel like you’re at the end of your rope, remember this:
YOU WERE MADE FOR THIS. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”-Philippians 4:13. Not somethings on some days but ALL things. Declare it in your spirit. Declare it out loud. Declare it over your life. As many times as needed.
Beautiful Mama, tiredness will not last forever (though it may feel that way in the moment). Growing pains (for your little one and for you) will not last forever (though it may feel that way in the moment). But you know what WILL last forever? Love.
Love takes no days off. And thank goodness it doesn’t because YOU…YOU ARE SO SO LOVED-faults, flaws, failures and all. Far more than you’ll ever truly know.
Now exhale and on your next inhale, remember that God is breathing into you. We’re in this together.
Love,
A fellow (exhausted) mama
It’s often said that life is better done in community.
What happens when you need that mama friend to talk to but none of your tribe picks up? Insert this book.
Written from the heart of one mama to another, each letter is long enough to give you a moment to breathe but short enough not to add another “to do” on your list. It’s a book that reminds you of the precious moments as well as offers encouragement during the pressing moments. I found myself “smiling” because someone else “got” what I was going through and being reminded that I was truly never alone. While it’s great to have fellow mamas to meet-up with, it is not always possible (with schedules, distance, etc.), Kara (Mothering the Divide) and Regan (Scary Mommy) are two mamas you can count on who will always be there.
Whether you are a new mother, a seasoned veteran, or have dreams of being a mama, you will find something in this book. It’s an “Open me when…”-a little something for everyone, no matter what mama season you are in.
*Special thanks to CenterStreet Publishing and Hachette Book Group for their partnership in today’s post.
- Ladies (and Gents) Who ________: What’s Your Legacy? - May 15, 2018
- A Letter For Every Mother - April 17, 2018
- Dear Beautiful Soul… - March 28, 2018