You Did Good Today
At 7:53 PM, I just put down my youngest for bed. My other two are in the bath. And I am the equivalent of burnt toast. “That’s what happens when mama doesn’t get a nap in,” I thought, while cleaning up my kitchen—only to recall that I actually did manage a micro nap earlier in the day.
But why am I so tired?
As I eagerly searched for a good enough reason for my exhaustion, I felt the gentle nudge of God. He beckoned me to reframe the day’s events in light of His eternal perspective. Then the day’s events cascaded before me:
8 AM (my perspective): Cleaned the second diarrhea diaper of the day, bathed my infant for the second time that day, changed my now soiled outfit for the second time that day. “I am so sick of being covered in vomit and diarrhea, but I feel so bad for my baby,” I thought.
8AM (God’s perspective): I persevered in the exhaustive work of caring for a sick baby, washed away the soiled remnants like Christ washes away mine. Showed my oldest two the privilege and responsibility of caring for those who can’t care for themselves.
10 AM (my perspective): Strolled the park with my mom and my three kids—because I feel/look way more pregnant than I am.
10 AM (God’s perspective): Took time to relish nature with my kids. We enjoyed God’s handiwork of ducks and egrets and spry squirrels. My children learned the art of being gentle with God’s creatures and being curious about the world around them.
12 PM: (my perspective): Laid on the sofa and began reading a chapter from The Baby Book on how to best treat infant diarrhea. My daughter walked up to me asking to read with her. I said “Yes, as soon as I finish reading how to best help your bother.” She plopped herself on my 5 month pregnant belly. Five minutes later, we opened up the book she asked to read. With strained exhaustion, I made it through to the end.
12 PM (God’s perspective): Used my time of rest to put my children before myself. Read a book to my daughter about how to overcome the feeling of jealousy. Ended our book with a verse about how love is patient and kind. We fell asleep together in God’s perfect design for family and closeness.
5 PM: (my perspective): Chopped up onions, garlic, sausage, eggs and green beans. Hurried my littles out of the kitchen so that I could get some cooking down with less mess. Then let my toddlers help me make bread. Kept my fussing about the mess to a “minimum” ;) but was so overwhelmed by all of the flour and dough and the sticky kitchen floors.
5 PM (God’s perspective): Gave careful thought to preparing a nourishing meal for my kids and my husband. Forsook the road of laziness (that I have been known to take a few times a week) and chose to prepare bread for the weekend, so we would not be without.
Many more events lined the day like collecting stool samples from my son, playing outside in the driveway with our kids, explaining why it’s important our children listen to us the first time we say to do something…encouraging my son in his invention of a paper plate banjo.
My day probably held much similarity to yours. If you’re a mom, you likely face dinner decisions, book reading, nap time, sick babies, and a myriad more…and I just want to let you know a message from your Heavenly Father…You did good today, mom. You didn’t do perfection, you did motherhood today. You showed up to life, to the day’s unknowns, challenges, setbacks and frustrations, all while raising up a young soul. Sure we missed the boat on some things today. Sure we could’ve had a kinder tone. We could’ve woken up a few minutes earlier to better steward breakfast time. We could’ve been on our phone less…These nuances of our own sanctification are being worked in us constantly. So for that we offer our kids repentance and forgiveness. For that, we call on the One who will complete the good work he began in us.
The weight of our earthly calling of motherhood is heavy. But the shoulders of our Heavenly Lord are strong. He wants to give us His perspective on life and motherhood. He longs to breathe gentle correction and loving delight into our minds. Let Him love you today by asking Him to show you His heavenly thoughts about your earthly day. Let Him unravel the stress and angst and “am I doing enough?” into a deep sigh of rest. Here’s to another day in the books.
From Another Mother,
Lex