As I write this, it’s currently Mother’s Day. Mother’s day always makes me pause and think of how I am doing in the realm of motherhood. As the mom of 3 young girls (ages 9, 6, and 5), I sometimes feel like a failure. I am not a typical “perfect mom”. I lose my temper, get frustrated, and I am not always bubbly and fun. I tried the stay-at-home mom thing, and only lasted a year. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my kids, I just found that I was not cut out for it. I enjoy working outside the home. Honestly, even if I ran my own business, it would have to be outside the house, I am just more productive that way.
Mom guilt is a very real thing. I struggled with that for a while, and often still do. It seems like everyone is nailing the mom thing while I often feel like I am just surviving. I grew up on James Dobson and Focus on the Family where there is a strong push for moms to stay home and even homeschool, both things that I don’t do, and don’t plan on doing. There is nothing wrong with doing those things, however, it really just isn’t for me. It hit me today when I was reading a short passage in the Bible, that God will use a moms exactly where they are.
I was reading about when Paul first met Timothy. If you will remember, Timothy became one of Paul’s most trusted friends and vital in growing the early church. In Acts 16:1 it says “Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek.” It may seem a little odd for this verse to stand out to me, but it really made me realize that God will use a believing mom no matter what the circumstance.
To me, it says a lot that Timothy became a believer, despite the fact that his father wasn’t one. It shows that his mother made a big impact on him. It also shows that you don’t have to have what may be perceived as the “perfect Christian family” in order to raise Godly children. As a matter of fact, him having a non-believer as a father may have even given Timothy a lot of insight into the way non-believers think. It also tells me that despite my failures as a mom, even if I don’t always do everything perfectly, God has a tremendous plan for my kids. Paul even notes the faith of Timothy’s mother and grandmother. “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Timothy 1:5
So the next time you find yourself not measuring up as a mom (or even as a grandmother), turn off the social media, quit comparing, and remember that God will use you no matter how imperfect you may feel.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Becki Koepke 