Thinking You are Failing as a Mom Might Be the Best Thing To Ever Happen To You

Early on in our marriage, my husband frequently claimed that 1 of the reasons he married me was because heknew I would be a wonderful mother. I would just express mirth and lovingly dial him in the shoulder…but deep downwards within (even though I would never admit it to him or anyone else), I agreed. I was then confident that I would be a wonderful mother when God blest us with children. How could I not be? It was going to come so naturally to someone similar me who loved being around children (and taught them for a living).

Ten years and iii precious kids later, I can't go a day without feeling like I am completely failing as a mom. I lose my patience with our boys, talk in too harsh of a tone, whine nigh having to get up with the babe, and frequently get exasperated that nilever seems to go as planned.

I idea I would be better at mothering than I am, or at leastfeel improve at it. This was supposed to exist my time to smooth. From the time that I was a little girl, I take e'er wanted, more than than annihilation, to exist a mother.

Instead, nearly days I feel completely inadequate and unprepared for the greatest 'job' of my life.

Perhaps I had too high of expectations for myself…I was blessed to be raised by an extraordinary mother (of v children, mind you) and Irarely remember her beingness stressed or exasperated with us. My mom is an amazing example of selfless love.

I came beyond a quote recently that completely captivated the inward struggle that has characterized the last 7 years of my life as a mom:

"‎I idea parenting was going to portray my strengths, never realizing that God had ordained it to reveal my weaknesses." -Dave Harvey

Becoming a female parent has forced me to expect into avery clearmirror…and see an honest reflection of the state of my middle. And what I've seen hasn't been pretty…by whatever stretch of the imagination.

I see selfishness.

Beingness responsible for the lives of three precious babies has made me encounter how selfish I can be…with my fourth dimension, my energy, and my Dr. Pepper! In addition to meeting the needs and desires of my hubby and children, I also genuinelywantto be thoughtful of others. An entire day might pass before I get over myself and think of what I can do to show love to someone else, including those in my own household!

I encounter self-centeredness.

Did y'all observe to a higher place how I thought motherhood would bemytime to shine? Yeah, God has been educational activity me a thing or two most self-centeredness. As it turns out, the earth reallydoesn't revolve around me. Perhaps I should have taken that Astronomy class in college, after all!

I see pride.

I realize now how extremely prideful I take been in the past. This is probably the single greatest work that God has done on my heart since becoming a female parent, although He certainly isn't finished with me nonetheless. God has used my feelings of inadequacy to humble me and make me realize how dependent I am on Him to meet my every need.

If motherhood has taught me annihilation, it has taught me that I can't do it on my ain. I am as well weak. I am besides selfish. I am too prideful. Just I call back God is using those feelings of inadequacy to draw me back to Him. I dear this quote from the bookGive Them Grace:

"It is a kindness when (God) strips us of self-reliance, considering it is there, in our emptiness and brokenness, that we experience the privilege of his sustaining grace. Information technology is just when we go far at the dreaded place of weakness that we discover the surpassing power of Christ." (p. 152)

Yes, I might experience like the biggest failure of all. But and so over again, that might merely be the best thing that has ever happened to me. Because information technology is in my weakness that I can cling to the One is never weak. It is in my frustrations that I can cling to the One who is wearisome to acrimony and abounding in love. Information technology is in my selfishness that I can cling to the One who willingly gave His own life for me.

I might not be perfect, simply in my imperfections I tin betoken my kids to the One who is.