In the distance, you hear a faint humming and buzzing sound, your heart races as you envision a bunch of bees are swarming angrily above your head. Suddenly you realize it is not the sound of killer bees but your alarm is going off, and you desperately try to set it to snooze. You snuggle under the covers for another five minutes of peace and quiet.
Harsh reality hits you like a bucket of ice water, and you jump out of bed as you remember you have 60 minutes to get everyone out the door and to school on time. You feel like crying and screaming in frustration, as you remember you need to pack three lunches and you forgot to have the kids pack their backpacks last night. Mentally you beat yourself up because you had decided the night before to spend some quality time with your husband, and you would get up earlier to get everything done.
As you race through the house telling everyone to get ready. You hear squabbling coming from the kitchen over the cereal box and the sound of cheerios raining all over the floor. You take a deep breath before you enter the kitchen and you pray for patience. You cringe in recognition over the tone of the voice coming out of your mouth; desperately you try to get it to calm down. The damage is done, and as you look at the tear stained cheeks of your children, shame and guilt engulf your heart. You wonder if you are qualified to be a Mom. Broken promises you’ve made to yourself to not yell at the kids anymore, scatter through your mind and whirl around like forgotten trash in an alley. You take the time to slow down to apologize and hug your children close, all the while you wonder how can they still love you.
Driving to school, you realize the kids are going to be late again. Because this is your third tardy this quarter, you have to walk them into the school to sign them in. You barely hold it together as you walk into the school hoping no one notices your uncombed hair and day-old make-up and clothes. You feel the stares, and you convince yourself they are condemning you, if you looked up you would see the eyes of compassion from those around you. But you are lost in your thoughts of feeling like a failure as a Mom. Slowly, you get back into your vehicle, and you try and stuff the sobs that threaten to erupt like a volcano.
You hear a tapping at your window, and you see a Mom standing there, and she has the kindest eyes. Rolling down the window, you wonder what could she possibly want. She invites you to have coffee with her…..
Maybe you can relate to this Mom’s morning. Perhaps you are thinking, every day I live through MOMents (Mom Moments) like this, and I am weary and tired. Please accept my invitation to spend some time with you and to offer you some encouragement. I am the Mom tapping on the window of your heart and soul, and I want to help you deal with your struggles.
Here are three things to remember when you are dealing with Mom Guilt.
- You are loved beyond measure. In Romans 8:38-39 we read, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God comes to you right where you in the MOMent, and loves you. Even when you feel unlovable, He still loves you. His love is given to you, it is not based on what you do, or you do not do. It is a gift.
- You are forgiven. Mom guilt can worm its way into your brain and cause deep distress and mental anguish. Jesus invites you to the foot of the Cross. Take some time to pour it all out before Him. Confess your sins. Leave it there. Your sins have been removed. “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:11-12 This song is a beautiful reminder of what Jesus has done for us on the Cross.
- You are never alone. God promises to walk with us through all the joys and sorrows of Motherhood. God has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. ” Hebrews 13:5b
God’s Word is full of His promises for you. I plan to create resources to help you draw near to God and to spend time with Him. I’ve created a five-day audio devotional series just for you. It is designed to fit in and around your busy life. You will receive an email from each day with a link to a devotional. You can download to your phone and listen to it while you are on the go.
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