Happy Mothers' Day!

Time for some real talk.

So many words that fly around social media this particular day ring hollow to me.

Don't get me wrong, here, I love my kids – I want to snuggle with them, laugh with them, help them grow, see them succeed, I am for them –

BUT

I also want them to go away.

For the majority of my parenting, I have not been sentimental, highly nurturing, or even patient, let alone longsuffering. I am tired, salty, and cranky af like 86% of the time. Life with my tiny people is a relentless onslaught of need. My failings, flaws, and deficiencies stare me down from four little sets of unassuming eyes, so when the world is yelling

“Happy Mother’s Day! You’re INCREDIBLE!"

I think, “fool, you don’t know me. You don’t know my life.”

But this is where it gets better – my success and amazingness as a mother don’t depend on... either my success OR my amazingness.

I am a mother because I’m a human to whom God has given children. The fallenness of all of humanity applies to my motherhood...

BUT

with these children come promises from the only perfect Father who says that it doesn’t depend on me – it depends on my dependence on Him. He made me how He made me, and He gave me kids anyway. He knows what He’s dealing with, and He wants me in on His plan anyway. And in recent years I’ve gotten to see it more and more, this rebuilding of a family legacy. The gift I’m constantly given is layer after layer of healing, and level upon level of flourishing. Somehow, the plan is working.

Happy Mothers’ Day, Friends. There’s hope for us. It’s going to be ok, and it’s going to be great. ❤️