The Perfect Mother

I got to tell you.  I'm angry.  I'm angry!  I thought an exclamation point would drive the point home better.  I'm angry at the unattainable goal of perfect motherhood.  Oh, you know, being there for your family 24/7, pushing all your needs aside.  Here is a real good guilt inducer for you:  IF MAMA AIN'T HAPPY, NO ONE IS HAPPY!  Being a melancholy person, that really kicks me in my guilt gut.  How about this doosie:  You are Jesus to your children.  Say what?????  No, I'm not.  Yes, I want to be like Jesus really, really, bad.  But it is for totally selfish reasons.  It is for ME.  I want God to be pleased with ME, like He was (is) with His Son.  Jesus did everything right.  He could have been a perfect mother.  Well, except for the male part about Him.  Jesus would never lose His patience.  He would have never screamed at His kids.  Jesus would never have been afraid that His children would make poor choices.  Jesus would not be up at nights struggling with feelings of wanting to take out the 16 year old that broke His daughter's heart.  Jesus would have handled the bullies in His son's life a whole lot better.  Jesus would not have taken His experiences with life and messed up His children's perspective on the world.  Jesus would have been a gracious, whole, and healthy mom, no brokenness, no fears, no rotten attitudes.  The perfect mother.  He probably would have been a fantastic cook and an adoring, submissive wife too.  PERFECT!!!  Can I even compete?  Uh, no!  I really understand the magazines, the blogs, the articles, and the books that try to encourage us as mothers with their lofty goals.  I really get it.  Seriously, if you don't shoot for something in life, you'll hit nothing.  As a mom, I want to be the best mom I can.  Maybe that is where I'm missing it.  I want to be?  How about this?  What about this attainable goal?  I am the best mom I can be when I follow Jesus, listen to the Holy Spirit, and trust the Lord with not only my wonderful and precious family, but with ME.  Just trust the Lord with me.  Every second, every heartache, every fear, every joy, every smile, every success.  Just trust the Lord.  That, I believe in Jesus name, I can do...

Philippians 1:6- Being confident of this very thing, that He Who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. 

 Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. 

Have a great day.