Welcome to Mom Motivation Mondays where weekly contributing writers share their motherhood experiences to encourage you to find the joy in being a mom.

{This week: Post by Lisa}

I thought thriving in motherhood would be easy. I went into parenting thinking that I had all the answers. It only took a week with a newborn for me to realize that I did not know it all.

When my kids were toddlers I went to bed most nights feeling overwhelmed. The preschool years got easier in some ways and more difficult in other ways.

It feels strange to me now that my children are school-aged. They are so different than me. Who are they?  It’s a bit scary and exciting all at the same time!

Every day I discover what makes them sad or happy. When I watch how they react in different life situations, I learn a great deal about their temperaments and how they receive love. This helps me serve them better. And when I say “serve” I mean as God intends.

God holds the wheel for our family and I am learning to be a quiet passenger. I have to take several deep breaths and hold my tongue a lot. If I don’t, I end up telling God what direction I want to go and I miss out on what He is showing me along the way.

It’s a rough world we live in and I’m learning to take every thought captive that leads me to worry about my kids. In doing this I realize that I must look at the eternal glories and not worry about the present circumstances.  My children are safe in God’s hands and He has a plan for them.

Daily I put to rest my expectations of who I think my children should be and how they should act.  They need me to accept them for who they are and challenge them to be the best they can be.

I want to teach them the skills they need according to the talents they display.  I acknowledge their God given gifts and I help them walk through doors that will enable them to grow in the things that interest them.  I don’t always get this right.  There is a lot of trial and error.

Thriving in Motherhood

My focus as a Mom is to help my kids find confidence and strength in God.  The best way for me to do this is to show them how I live life for God.  They learn through my actions.

For example, I don’t need them to thank me or notice the little things I do for them. It’s my responsibility to care for them. Believe me, I sometimes get all huffy and puffy when they don’t show appreciation.  I am getting quicker to correct my error in this type of attitude. Thriving in motherhood is an every day challenge.

When I start to think that I do too much for my family and not enough for me, I remind myself that Christ gave His life for me.  He doesn’t expect anything in return.  He gave us life so that we could give hope to those He puts in our hands to care for. I don’t expect my kids to serve me and return any favors.  I chose to love my kids unconditionally with no strings attached.  And this is what I believe a true servant looks like.

I have discovered that thriving in motherhood is attainable when I seek God for direction and I obey Him.  Being a Mom is challenging and I don’t always want to put my kid’s needs before mine.

There is always a consequence for selfishness.

²¹ For me to live is Christ [His life in me], and to die is gain [the gain of the glory of eternity]. Philippians 1:21 (AMPC)

I have to let go of my ways to have peace and joy. 

Thriving in Surrender

I desire to empty myself so that Christ living in me is noticeable. It’s more important that others know Jesus than me. In order for that to happen I must put God and others first. It’s a challenge but the right thing to do as a Christian.

I’m more rested and confident in who I am as a Mom when I let God drive.  His presence assures me that He is available for me.  I seek Him for understanding and wisdom.

A servant of Christ surrenders her life to God.  God changes us from our old ways and shows us how to live a meaningful life in a new way.

I surrender all to Christ because He has given me eternal life. In Him life is filled with blessings.  Because of Jesus I have gone from surviving to thriving in motherhood.

I was forty when I got married. I had my first child in 2008 and my second child in 2010. I am not a young mom. I’ve been married since 2006 to an amazing man that is my best friend and we live in Colorado. Before I had children I was a Preschool Teacher. Now I’m a Home School Teacher.

I write to encourage and inspire. Life is messy and sometimes makes no sense. I’m learning that I don’t have to be perfect. I’m loved by God just because, and so are you. Join us at Me Too Moments for Moms to connect with other moms seeking faith and joy in this season of life.