When I became a mom for the first time in 2006, I was not prepared for the demand’s motherhood placed on me. It was physically exhausting and mentally draining. I had to learn through trial and error. In those first few days after birth, I was confused why this little person I loved so much was still crying after I had fed, bathed, and changed her diaper 3 times.

Most days I felt helpless that I could not do anything to soothe and comfort her. Without being told through words, I was expected to figure out why she was crying and meet that need. It took me a few months to figure out that every time she cried, it was not because I was doing something wrong.

Fast forward to the twos, pre-teens, and teen years, their needs don’t seem to change much. As they navigate their growing pains into adulthood, they still want their moms to understand their big emotions without verbalizing them, and unless we are anchored in God’s love for us, we will fail them when they need us the most. We will either react, and make their issues worse, or engage in  self-condemnation when they make poor choices in life.

But just like Mary, the mother of Jesus, kept things in her heart when a prophecy was given over her newborn son, we too must be wise to know when we should guard things in our hearts and take them to our prayer closet, and when we should step in and guide them.

Luke 2: 19
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Unless we partner with the Holy Spirit, we will not be able to raise a generation of God-fearing children.

However, there is no such thing as a perfect mom. Only God is perfect in His love. So, it is highly likely that our style of mothering or the things we may have said or done too hastily, have brought on hurts.

Be humble to confess to God and to them, because there is nothing more healing for our children to hear than “I’m sorry” from a mom. It could replace years of praying and lost time with our kids.

I encourage you to stand strong and stand still. Be still and know that HE is God and He can do far more in a child’s life with a mother who partners with His divine plan for them than with a mother who gives into worry and angst, which I did for years. So, wherever you are on your mom’s journey, know that God loves you deeply and immeasurably.

Your value as God’s daughter is not measured by the success of your children.

David is not our perfect role model as a parent because his son Absalom tried to kill him, yet the Lord called him a man after God’s own heart. The Lord is asking us to partner with Him in raising the next generation of kingdom warriors. And if they are at a stage where they will not take instruction from us, then trust our heavenly Father to keep His promise.

Isaiah 54:13
¹³ And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you beautiful women out there. Go celebrate YOU.

In His Service,

Sohani Faria