Mom Heart Moments #194

Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other.

COMMITTED MOTHERHOOD IS a holy calling of God. I believe I am a steward of the children He has given me, and He trusts me to love, instruct, train, and provide for them in such a way that they may go into their adult lives emotionally healthy, loving God and serving His Kingdom purposes.

However, there are times when, seemingly out of the blue, I spew all over my children. The work of giving, serving, cleaning, cooking, and correcting consumes my patient feelings and slowly depletes my rational brain cells, causing frustration to build up inside until it suddenly takes over and spills anger on everyone in close range. I always feel terrible when I have thrown one of these fits.

I do not need a lecture from someone telling me I have been immature, out of control, unreasonable, and unloving. I already know that. What I long for instead is gentleness and patience —someone to tenderly place their arms around my shoulders, look into my eyes with compassion, understand how I feel, and say, “Grace to you, sweet one; you are forgiven. All will be well.”

It is a comfort to have another mom who can say to me, “You are not alone. I am guilty of raging in the tempests of my own life too. Apologize, ask for forgiveness, and move on in love.”

And then I need a maid, a waitress, and a day away to be an adult again, but that is not in the budget of my minutes and days. Instead, I will be comforted with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, as Paul so eloquently wrote in today’s verse.

Can I be that mom for you today? If you’ve lost it with your children, can I assure you that you’re not alone, and it’s not irreparable? Apologize honestly. Ask for forgiveness. Begin again. God has already forgiven you and provided for a new tomorrow.