Mother’s Day comes and goes each year, but a mom’s 24/7 job never ends, does it? Motherhood brings great blessings and many joys, but it also might be the hardest job under the sun. You mothers out there may not feel remarkable, but you are. Anyone who keeps going 365 days a year at the same job, with no instruction manual and no salary, is just plain amazing!
This is for you, Mom, if you’re feeling worn out and weary.
Maybe you’re tired of tripping over the guinea pig cage or the nerf blaster left in the hall when you walk to the kitchen at 6:30 every morning.
Maybe you’ve run out of gas after the 478th carpool run. (And I’m not talking about the gas in your car.)
Maybe you’re afraid you might just scream if someone asks you one more time, “What’s for dinner?” or “Mom, have you seen my white shirt?”
You may not feel remarkable or amazing, but you are.
You may not see any fireworks going off to celebrate your work serving your family, but your Heavenly Father applauds you. He cheers you on as you run the race set before you. He’s cheering for you as you go through the obstacle course of breakfast, school drop off, work, dinner, baths, and bed time. Then there’s wake up, and do it all again.
You may think no one notices all your hard work, but God sees it.
You may not feel like a particularly kind or loving mother, but God sees your heart, and He knows that no one would do the job you’re doing if she didn’t have a love a strong as steel in her heart.
- Love is what makes you do one more load of laundry.
- Love is what moves you to read one more story to your toddler or have one more late night talk with your teen.
- Love is what urges you take a sick kid to the emergency room in the middle of the night.
- Love is what helps you hold your tongue when that same kid explodes and says, “You don’t understand!”
Motherhood is a marathon, and sometimes you’re running uphill. Hang in there, Mom. Hang on to God’s grace. Stick close to Him, and His power will rest on your weakness. His grace is all you need.
You’re more amazing than you know. And the work you’re doing, by God’s grace, is going to bear more fruit than you can even imagine.
Now it’s your turn. What do you like most about being a mother? What do you think is the hardest part of motherhood?
This post was re-edited from my archives.
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Thanks, Betsy, for affirming the every day things that we do to show love to our families. And for reminding me that the love of Christ is the fuel that keeps me going.
Thanks, Michele. Happy Mother’s Day to you, friend. God is cheering you on!
This is so encouraging! – a perfect letter to a mother who needs to hear how important it is! Even when no one notices her hard work. Beautiful!
So beautiful Betsy. While I may not have children of my own the older I get the more I see how much my mom did for my brothers and I and for that I’m forever grateful. A mom’s job is hard but the reward is worth it 🙂
Thank you, Crystal. May the Lord use you to bless many lives, friend. He’s given all of us women that mothering, sistering nature, whether we have flesh and blood children or not. 🙂
As I watch my daughter-in-law enjoy her baby, getting up at all hours of the night and carrying for him while doing so many other tasks, I know what you are sharing is true: only the love of God could give us the ability to get up and do this each new day with such devotion and strength. Thank you for your true words, Besty.
Your children rise up and call you blessed, Devri! I know you’re not up at night with kids much any more, but your job isn’t over, and you’re running a great race. Blessings to you this Mother’s Day.
Betsy, right now, what I love most about being a mom is watching my girls grow. We’re at a stage (11 and 14) where all kinds of development is happening in so many areas, and it fascinates me! I’m amazed how God put them together with so many seemingly divergent traits and interests. Maybe the hardest part is resting in the knowledge that, no matter how badly I fall short in my mothering, God is their perfect heavenly Father and His plans for them are good and unfailing. I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day, my friend!
I hope you have a good Mother’s Day too, Lois. What I love best is hanging out with my teens, talking, laughing, watching movies, singing, dancing, sight seeing. The hardest part is trusting God when they struggle. Thanks for sharing here today.
What a thought-filled post, what a lovely bit of cheering for all of us mamas out there.
It hasn’t been a calling for the faint of heart, has it, Betsy.
May your own personal celebration be sweet indeed …
Blessings to you, Linda. May God continue to use you as a mom and grandmother. I remember you lost a sweet one recently. May the Lord comfort that little one’s mom this Mother’s Day.
My active mothering years are now behind me, but I am loving being a mother to my adult daughters too! Such fun times to watch them go through life’s changes and make decisions on their own. Hope you have a blessed Mother’s Day, Betsy!
May your day be blessed, Lisa! Your race isn’t over if you have adult daughters! (Even if the race course changes when they leave home. 🙂 )I’m praying now that God will use you to encourage and strengthen them!
Hey Betsy,
I found your post today on FaithnFriends.
Thank you for all of the encouragement to moms!
I love getting to hang out with my kids. We are all really busy, and I love it when we get to have a meal together.
Hope you have a Happy Mother’s Day.
Blessings,
Melanie
Thank you, friend! I read about your book on another blog today. It looks so good! You reminded me to stop barking! 🙂 I love hanging out with my kids too. We get crazy together sometimes. Happy Mother’s Day to you too!
Oh, how I needed to read this! My favorite thing about being a mom is watching my kids grow and learn every single day. My least favorite thing is the constant messes, but I know this will pass, and when it does, I’ll be wishing my kids were little again! Happy Mother’s Day!
I’m with you, Shelly. I don’t love the messes either, but you’re right. We can thank God that we GET to have kids who make messes around the house.
So glad you brought this one out of storage, Betsy. It was well worth saying again!
When I read that ‘motherhood is a marathon’ I nodded in agreement. Sometimes it feels like our work is never done. I just pray sometimes to see the beauty in the mundane and keep giving my all. I know God sees even when no one else does.
Thanks for the encouragement!
Wishing you a beautiful Mother’s Day!
Oh, Marva. I hear ya, friend. Praying for you now, that God will renew your vision (and strength!) day by day.
What a great word of encouragement, Betsy. Thank you! I think so many of us get caught up in the doing we forget what a ministry motherhood is. I know this is the blessing many moms need to hear this weekend and every weekend.
Thanks so much, Deb. You’re so right about us forgetting that being a mom is actually a ministry! Thanks for reading today.