5 Truths for Women

4

usI was deeply impacted and touched by the local home school conference I attended a few weekends ago.  Before you think, I don’t home school so this post won’t apply to me, please keep reading – it applies to ALL moms.  I would say the conference was more like a parenting conference and the speakers shared some universal truths that apply to all moms whether you home school or not.  Because as moms, we all struggle with the same issues.

Here are a few highlights of what spoke to me.  I can’t take any credit for these points!

#5 Comparison is the Death of Contentment.

I guess God really knew I needed to hear that because I heard a speaker say that last year and again this year.  I get it…and it is TRUTH.  I never struggled with comparing myself with others until I had kids, and well, my babies weren’t perfect so when my boys weren’t on set schedules at 6 weeks I started to freak out.  Yeah that isn’t realistic is it?  And when my friends who have more kids than I do always have their house perfect when I pop in…. I compare.  When a mom who just had a baby (you know her 5th) and she looks like she has never had kids to begin with….I compare.  When I see other moms with children that stand perfectly still at the checkout line….I compare.  And then I think why don’t my kids do that or why can’t I have it all together like that after all I do only have 2 kids and she has over double the amount of children than I do and she has it together…I compare.  It is a daily struggle for me and probably most women.

Last summer I went through a season of big discontentment and for me it all pointed back to me comparing to other moms.  I was discontent with my life.  God told me this….

STOP COMPARING MY WEAKNESSES WITH OTHERS STRENGTHS AND DON’T COMPARE MY STRENGTHS TO OTHERS WEAKNESS (just so I don’t get too prideful)  Let’s stop ladies!

#4  Gods Design

This leads perfectly into my next point.  God made you the perfect parent for your children and God gave you the perfect children for you.  My boys test me and try me all day long.  I have wondered why I don’t have easy kids.  You know, the ones who just stand perfectly still and never blatantly disobey you with that grin on their face – their eyes say it all “watch me mommy I am going to do it again”.  Well, God knew what he was doing and I am humbled everyday that I need His help and can’t do this parenting thing without him.  Moms just know that whatever your situation, if you have a special needs child or maybe your children are really well behaved – it is for a reason.  Maybe your are in an “easier” season of life (I say that knowing parenting is never easy for anyone) and you have the opportunity to help others who are in need, like take a meal to the mom with a special needs child or give another mom a break by watching her children for a few hours while she goes to get groceries.

blog

#3 Days drag on…the Years Fly by

My goals during the day … make it to lunch… then make it to nap time …then make it until daddy gets home…then let’s go only a little bit until bed time.  And you sit down exhausted, right?  The weeks turn into months so quickly then seasons and years.  You know exactly what I am talking about.  At the end of most days, I think what did I do all day which leads into my next truth.

#2 Strings of Hope….

This one hit me hard.  A seasoned mother shared this story.  I will try to give it justice re-telling it in my words.  As moms we feel like our days are just a string without a knot at the end.  You put a bead on the string and what does it do?  Fall right off.  We do this over and over and over again all day long.  The other day my husband walks in the door and I said “The kitchen was clean at 10am and the counters were completely spotless” and now it looks like a bomb went off with stuff everywhere.  You know what I am talking about the work is never done.  Then she held up a string with beads beautifully strung.  She spoke the most beautiful words… “God is collecting your tears and one day He will say “Well done good and faithful servant”.

#1 The relationship is the priority.

If we are pushing our children to do something or be better at something, but your child is fighting you over it, stop.  Your relationship with them is so much more important than pushing them to be the best baseball player or even to be potty trained.  My oldest can get frustrated pretty easily and there have been many times I have just had to back off and not push him.  He will catch on in his own time like learning to ride his bike without training wheels.  Make our relationship with them the priority not being the best athlete the priority.

Granted there are things that we have to make our children do and areas as a parent you aren’t willing to compromise on but hopefully we can understand how important it is not to isolate our relationship with our children even when they are young.

Do any of these Truths hit home for you?  I would love for you to share!

4 COMMENTS

  1. I have to agree, Jodi, that this year’s NICHE Conference left me greatly encouraged not just as a homeschooler but as a mom. Great conference and great concept for a blog post!

  2. I needed this today! Thank you so much! I compare myself to other mom’s way too much and it needs to stop. It’s a downward spiral if you allow yourself to do it.

  3. I am so glad Holly. I could go on about comparing myself and well last week as I was typing this post guess what a really great opportunity popped up and I failed! But I think as I am more aware of trying to stop comparing myself it gets a bit easier to rebound after the fall. Another thing that really helped me was to make a list of all the little things I am thankful for.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here