Lately, I’ve heard a lot of talk on on the seasons of motherhood and how it gets easier. Oh, how I want to believe it is true. But, seeing how I’m 14 years into it, I think that may be wishful thinking. I’ve come to the realization, motherhood does not get easier.
It shifts.
It may look different.
But easy? No, it does not get any easier.
- Is it easier to hold a crying baby or pray over a crying teen who has made a bad choice?
- Is it is easier to never leave the house with sick kids or to see your kids leave the house to go to college?
We are moms.
We are not called to easy.
We are called to love.
We are called to be faithful.
There is nothing ever easy about being faithful and loving well.
“We do nothing. God does everything. All glory must return to HIm. God has not called me to be successful. He called me to be faithful.” – Mother Teresa
I don’t want to discourage you. But, from the bottom of my heart I want to tell you:
What we need is not life to be easier.
What we need is to lean in deep to the grace He gives.
We need to remember we are first His daughters and cling to Him.
And He is all we really need.
xo,
Stacey
Oh, how I needed this confirmation today. I’ve been reflecting on my journey of motherhood the past few months. Indeed, easy is never part of the vocabulary. A friend with a brand new son is fighting fatigue that comes with the sleepless nights of an infant. I’m fighting separation as my “baby girl”, prepares to move 3 states away and start over after a tragic divorce. I pray for God’s grace and lean on Him to guide me through this new path of my journey. Can’t imagine walking without Him!
My kids are 19 and 17. Sending a son off to college and having a daughter starting to date totally shifted my prayer life and focus. Praying for them is a daily need, and knowing that God will take care of them. I pray John 17:15 for them. ” I ask that You not take them out of this world, but that You would protect them from the evil one.
Stacey, this is so true. As a mom of two teens and two little ones I’m convinced that it really does not get easier (potty training vs. prodigal teen?) but there really is nothing in my life that draws me closer closer to Jesus than motherhood and for that I am so grateful that it’s not easy. You are so right, He is all we really need. Blessings & a happy 4th of July to you.
Oh boy, is this ever so true. Last night I got a call from my oldest who is living half the distance of the country away from me right now: “Mom, I have a fever. I feel terrible.” Ugh. What could I do but pray?
When my girls were little my mom used to say to me, “Little people, little problems; big people, big problems.” And this is so true as well. While the physical exhaustion of raising little ones is not the same for me anymore, the emotional toll of raising teenagers and young adults takes a huge toll as well.
I think the basic lesson here is that mothering never ends. 🙂
Oh, Stacey…as the mother of a 25 year old I can testify that this is true. What wonderful wisdom you have shared here today.
I am so so so thankful that you posted this! I’ve seen a lot of blogs talking about it getting easier as well, and I *think* the heart behind them is that it gets easier for a mom to kind of reclaim herself a little bit (totally assuming on this one). I love the wisdom you shared here and that it’s so real 🙂
Amen! It does NOT get easier (says the mama of 4- 21, 20, 17 and 15) but God is there through the diapers, the skinned knees, the tantrums (2 year old and 12 year old variety) and all the in between. Thanks for saying this!