A better version

Oh, I read a good article today.  You can read it here.  You should.  It's written by a dad, but I think every mom (at least every mom I know) can relate in some way.

This parenting this is hard, no? If you've read anything on this blog in the past 5 years, you know I'm a parent just trying to scrape along by the grace of God.  I struggle daily with feeling like I'm never doing enough, being enough, for my kids.  God is working on me about this.  I think I can see improvements little by little.  Maybe.  I hope so!

A particular sentence in the article I mentioned read,  "[Be the kind of parent] Who asks God to help you to be a better version of the person that you actually are, not for more strength to be an ideal parent."  (emphasis mine)

Whoa.  That hit me in the heart as I read it.  So often my trouble arises when I am striving to reach unrealistic mothering expectations I have set up for myself, based on what I see other moms doing.  In that crazy pursuit, I forget that God has chosen ME to parent THESE children.  He has uniquely qualified me to be the mom who trains them up.  And He continues to train me and equip me to do this job.  I am reminded yet again that "God's grace is sufficient for me." (2 Cor. 12:9)  How amazing is this God?  He calls us to difficult tasks and doesn't abandon us to figure it out alone.  He stays, He ministers, He equips, He guides,  and He pours out His sweet, sweet grace.

This Mama

These children

Lord, Thank you for the grace you pour out on my mama heart, again and again.  Thank you for training me up daily to "be a better version of the person I actually am."