Dear Mom Who Is Just Trying To Make It

Dear Mom who’s trying to make it,

Did you know you are a superstar? No, you really are.

You may be covered in your child’s favorite breakfast, desperate to get the house in order, scrambling to get dinner together, and overwhelmed with the never-done job. To escape, you dive into the never-ending hole of the internet. Scrolling through Pinterest, you find a post that sparks your interest. This is it. This will make you more organized, more satisfied, more patient, more, more more...or will it make you less?. In pulling yourself together, are you pushing your children away? “Leave me alone, I’m trying to organize this.” “Leave me alone, I’m trying to write this post”. “Leave me alone, I’m trying to create this delicious meal (and you’d better like it!)”...”Leave me alone, I’m trying...I’m trying….I’m...dying…”

In our fast paced, instantly gratified society we desperately want to “make it”. There’s a longing inside us to be noticed. Maybe it’s a compliment on your meal or your creativity. Perhaps it’s a struggle to be heard, typing your heart and soul on a blog only to have a handful of reads. And there’s the desire to be the best: read the most books, know the most information, have the best body, DIY your entire life, be the better wife, mother, friend, daughter…

There’s nothing wrong with succeeding or improving your life. The internet can be a helpful resource. But too many of us mamas are exhausted, running after the next big thing. What about today’s big thing? This week I had ten children over to play. Watching kids running around the backyard while sipping tea with a friend, I realized I’ve already made it.

These kids think I’m a superstar. Each morning they crave time with only me. And for the rest of their lives I’m the one who’ll have an impact on them. I look back on my 36 years of life and see all that God has done and I’m astonished. In His grace He brought me close to Himself.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who were formerly far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Eph. 2:13

You are noticed.  “How precious are Thy thoughts to me, Oh God! How vast is the sum of them!” Ps. 139:17 You’re near to God and He notices you. With every diaper changed, every dish washed, every toy picked up...He notices you. Your children also notice. They are slowly learning to serve, slowly learning to love.

You are heard. “Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplication. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped” Ps. 28: 6-7a. You always have God’s ear. He’s present and ready to listen. Your children also hear you, internalizing every word. They hear when you blow up and apologize later. They hear the lessons, over and over, on how to treat each other. Through you they are developing a heart for reconciliation.They hear when you read to them...not realizing they’re creating a story of their own they’ll one day tell the world.

You’ve already “made it”. Regardless of how your house looks, how your children behave, how much you read, how talented you are...it’s not about you. Although it’s true that you are already a Superstar to your children (remember there is only one Mama to them and that’s you!), if you are in Christ you are “seated with Christ in the heavenly places” Eph. 2:6b.

About Taylor

Taylor has lived over half her life desiring to know God and make Him known.  She is the wife to Josh Irby and the mother to four beautiful children.  She lives in Bosnia working with college students and young moms.  She loves creating art and music and teaching her children piano.  You can read more on her blog: Irby Road.

If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.

Sharing this over at these awesome blogs.