Too Blessed to Be Stressed for MomsSample

Thinking Outside the [Sand] Box

“You revive my drooping head …” (Psalm 23:5 MSG). 

Ever have one of those days when mothering drains you dry? When Princess Leia has a meltdown in the candy aisle, or Mama’s boy Roy taste-tests his fresh nose pickings during the children’s choir performance. Or drama queen Ilene screams those heart-shattering words, “I hate you!”

You’re so over it:

Overdrawn

Overrun 

Overcome

You’re sure it’s as obvious to everyone else as it is to you: you’re just not enough. Other moms must be doing it right. They don’t seem to have these problems. 

Wait. Or do they? 

Newsflash, my kerfuffled friend: you’re not the only one who thinks her maternal arrows are missing the bull’s-eye. We all do. But it’s okay if you miss the target. Papa God created you to be enough for the specific needs of your children. 

Even when you don’t feel like it, it’s still true: You. Are. Enough. 

Your heavenly Father spins those mistakes to make you a better person and parent. Papa God is in the redemption business; He specializes in redeeming defective and damaged people. 

The next time you feel shame over your mothering inadequacies, try thinking outside the [sand] box:

Can’t hit the slam dunk? Maybe your goal’s too high. Perfection is still depicted in the media as something attainable, something others have but you don’t. It’s an illusion. Perfect moms and perfect children don’t exist. Repeat this crazed-mom creed every morning:

The Overachiever’s Get-Over-It Creed (based on Philippians 4:13)

“I can do all things through Christ”

Does NOT mean

I will do all things,

All at once,

All by myself,

All before the sun goes down. 

• Too many Momzilla moments? Incessantly picking on kiddos and Spouse is a huge hint that it’s time for a break, girlfriend. Fatigue is one of womankind’s biggest relationship-damagers. 
• Lost your laugh? I so get that. It’s hard to remember what carefree mirth feels like when you’re wrestling a stuffed bunny out of the clogged toilet.

To reconnect with your lost laugh, try doing something unexpected and outrageous. Put on crazy music and wear underpants on your head; climb a tree with your kids; have an Easter egg hunt with kumquats in August. 

Additional Elements: 

BFF Prayer: Master Designer, remind me today that through Your grace, I am enough. Amen. 

Digging Deeper: Jeremiah 31:3 NLT