I have a sneaking suspicion that your “mama love” runs deep, deep to the very core of who you are. I bet that ever since you found out you were going to be a mom you have loved your kids with an unexplainable love that only a mom can fully understand. And despite this intense love, the outward expression of your love looks different day to day.
Many days your love looks like picking up the same toys 35 times, wiping snotty noses, waking up 6 times at night with a baby, folding the 10th load of laundry for the week, or running kids to and from events. Maybe it looks like working on homework, cooking and cleaning up after dinner and then making birthday treats late at night when you just wanted to lay down and watch Netflix. Sometimes love means staying up all night long cleaning up throw up from a two year old who doesn’t quite have the idea of how to puke in a bowl. Maybe your love means extending grace to your teenager who is a basket case of hormones. (We’ve all been there!)
Love often goes unnoticed when you are a mom.
Love is not always glamorous. Some days you don’t have the patience you know love should have. Some days you are quick to get angry, even over the small things and on those days, you may not feel so kind. Some days you are envious of the woman who seems to have it all together and it is all you can do not to compare yourself thinking that maybe that mom loves her kids better than you do. (Hint: Not true!)
I am so thankful for God’s grace! His grace covers all the days we run out of patience, kindness, gentleness and compassion and because of HIS grace we do not need to live under an umbrella of guilt or shame!
Your kids are well loved! The very fact that you are concerned with whether or not you’re a good mom shows that you are loving them well!
You are a good mom!
Say it with me now…I am a good mom!!
God chose you to be the mama to your kids!! Although we fail and stumble along the way, God can show us how to love our kids well when we don’t know how. And he gives us grace.
Practice Grace!
What if our love looked like this; Full of grace for our kids and for ourselves. What if we recognized that we are not superwoman, we can not do it all and do it all perfectly. We need to rest. We deserve forgiveness and understanding. Practice giving yourself the kind of grace you offer to others.
God sees you and says you are doing it…you are loving my child well! Because remember, these precious ones are only ours for a time. We can not see the entire picture of how our love is shaping our kids but let me assure you, IT IS! Our kids start out learning what love is from US! And you know that intense, deep-to-the-core kind of love you have for your kids? Well, God has that kind of love for YOU too (only deeper)! And he shows you daily as well, just like you do for your kids.
So as you go throughout your day, start looking for ways God shows love to you. Sometimes He loves you with a beautiful sunset, an answered prayer, an unexpected restful day at home, or a word of encouragement from a friend. I promise you, he is loving you daily! Today and in the days ahead, pay attention to the intense love that God has for you! His love never disappoints.
Grace starts with self-acceptance. Accept yourself as a mom.
Remember to reach out to other moms who can support and encourage you in this journey too! You are loved!
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About the Author
Hi! I’m Melissa Emerson, a wife, a mom of four, and author of Mostly Thriving. I am passionate about helping others thrive in their homes, in their motherhood and in their self-confidence. I know that to thrive we have to continue to learn every day. I promise to be real, vulnerable and authentic as we learn together how to live a life that’s Mostly Thriving.
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