This house has seen some messes. With kids, I think mess is inevitable. Without a little mess how do we ever have a need to rely on faith? If we are always able to accomplish everything every day, we may think we are perfect and powerful all on our own. God does not need us on our own. He gave us children. And, the mess of motherhood is part of the growth process.
 

” For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:10 

 
 

The Mess of Motherhood as Growth

 
The mess of motherhood is unique-it makes us feel all-powerful and completely weak all at the same time. We birth life-literally-and yet are stumped and challenged by that life on a daily basis. I thought I would have all the time that I wanted to get my work done. The dishes would be clean, the laundry folded AND put away, the rugs vacuumed perfectly. My children teach me otherwise.
 
 
I had no idea that in order to be a better mom, I had to be pushed off of my agenda and recognize who is in charge. We cannot reach farther into faith if we are never pushed off of our confidence.
 


“And me? I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing: make something of me. 
You can do it; you’ve got what it takes-but God, don’t put it off.”
Psalm 40:17

 
 
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15
 

Sometimes the messes are caused by the children, or the time that it takes to care for the four of them. Sometimes, though, the messes are all my fault. I forget my priorities, my needs get confused with wants, and I skip my necessary duties to focus on something “fun”.

Child kneeling in a messy playroom. Text reads The Mess of Motherhood.
 
 
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:  “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”  Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Proverbs 31: 27-29

The Beauty in the Mess

My mess means there is life in this house, there is food and there is work. No boredom can take place when there is more to do than time allows.
 
There are children playing and babies needing my time. There is a marriage that needs to be tended and if that means dirty dishes meet me some days when I wake up before the sun, then that is when I will deal with them. My story is my mess-the life that is being a mom-and the sweet lessons that have come from my children in my life.
 

Reality of the mess of motherhood

 
Mess is not always related to being lazy. Mess is always an opportunity to reach for something much greater. To be strengthened to find faith and rely on it. To trust that I am not enough. I need Jesus to strengthen me. In the mess is life and love and time spent.
 
 
This post is featured in A Complete Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms: When You Need to Connect in Faith. Read all of the articles about faithful motherhood.
 

Enjoy the mess and all that comes with it.

 
 
Sink full of dishes and kitchen food scraps. Counters full of plates. Text reads the mess of motherhood new on the blog.
 
This is the final day of The Ultimate Guide to Baby’s First Year organized by the awesome Dayna at Lemon Lime Adventures. Today, we are sharing Stories about Baby.
 


Stories about Baby
 
Lemon Lime Adventures
 
 
 
Trust Me, I’m a Mom
 
 
 
Powerful Mothering
 
 
Bare Feet on the Dashboard
 
 
 
Conceiving Piper
 
 
La Cité des Vents
 
 
Let The Journey Begin