“As mothers and fathers, it is so easy to get distracted by the details of our lives. We have so much to do! We must feed our children well and take care of their health. We must oversee their education and their training to make sure they will be able to take care of themselves and live in a civilized society. We train them in righteousness so they may understand how God wants them to live. We try to relate to them in mature ways and help them learn to have healthy relationships.”
-The Ministry of Motherhood
It is a great responsibility to be a mother, a cultivator of beauty and nurturer of souls. If you are finding yourself overwhelmed today with the tasks of your home ( playing with your sweet ones and listening to their hearts, cooking meals, cleaning, reading to your children, being a life-giver), consumed by anxiety, daunting tasks, and a serious lack of sleep, I invite you to take a deep breath at this moment.
Relax, even for just a minute, and remember that while you may feel alone, God sees all of the work you do (the late nights, early morning, many meals, the lit candles and lovely flowers that no one else noticed).
Don’t put unrealistic pressures on yourself, on your personal mama agenda, or on your parenting, that God never asked you to do. Perhaps the most loving and healthy thing you can do for yourself and your children is to be still for a moment today and have a quiet time. Put on some music, and invite your children to have some independent quiet time for just an hour. This is a wonderful time for them to enjoy some summer reading, while you can enjoy a moment to refuel.
"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:10
Take a moment to reflect on the verse and ask yourself the 5 questions below: -How can you prioritize your quiet time today and squeeze it into your busy schedule? -What tiny details are distracting you from what is truly important? -Is there anything on your to-do list that can be set aside for a later date? -What tasks are you stressing about and prioritizing that God is not asking you to carry today? -How much more efficiently could you love and nurture your children if you took a moment for yourself to be still?
Be still today, sweet mamas, and know that not every day will be filled with Pinterest-perfect meals, spotless homes, intense homeschool lessons finished, or 15 DIY projects completed. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself, and remember that God loves you not just through what you do, but how you are able and willing to let Him take over. The beauty of God's grace shines when we learn to be still.
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Remember todays amazing verse for our You Are Loved Bible study:
Oh the voices…
God doesn’t love you because….
Your sins really aren’t forgiven…
God is not pleased with you….
He is disappointed in you…
You can’t change…
If God really knew what you are like on the inside…..He wouldn’t/couldn’t love you.
Oh those voices, they speak lies to me day and night, so much so that I have to go back to God’s Word, back to the real Truth, day after day and read for myself what He says about His amazing love for me. For more, go HERE
Today, He sees you and does not condemn you. Be still and rest in Him!