A Letter To The Mother Of Young Children
Dear Mama,
There are a few ways in which I would like to encourage you today. Yes you. The one who finds herself in the midst of sleep-deprived nights, load after load of laundry, toys on floors, and noisy days.
I know that you love your children, and how your heart is to lay down your very life for them. You have given up your dreams (for now), your own ideals of a gorgeous, tidy, Pinterest-style house, your space and your silence, in order to pour your very existence into the hearts and lives of your little ones.
You are to be applauded! You are to be praised, dear mom! While thank you’s are scarce, and mess is much, you keep on day after day pouring drinks, spoon feeding mush, and wiping little noses and bottoms!
I’ve been there my fellow mama. In fact, I’m still there now. But, even though I have a 3 year old, and an 8 month old, I also have already somehow managed to raise the delicate souls of a 13, 11, and 7 year old (without breaking them!). I’m not much further ahead than you, but just enough to know that:
It gets easier!
Children actually do grow up it seems. They learn to walk by themselves at some point. They become capable of grabbing a snack by themselves. At some stage, with some encouragement, they begin to tidy up after themselves. Then before you know it, they are allowed to cross the road by themselves. And ultimately they communicate (in language that you can actually understand) by themselves!
And as each of these and many other milestones are reached, you will find that moment by moment, task by task, life will get a little easier for you. It will go from extreme physical to more spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and verbal in nature.
At times, you will long for the simplicity of meeting your children’s needs simply by picking them up or changing their diapers. These needs, though they seem endless and trying now, will eventually be missed when you find yourself having to explain the complexity behind a decision you’ve made, or comforting your child’s deep hurts of rejection from a friend.
These days of meeting your baby’s every physical need and pretending you understand your toddler who is rattling off in some mysterious sounding language, and toilet training your child who you’re convinced should have mastered the act months ago… these are the good ol’ days!
Enjoy them. Appreciate them. Savour them. Tweet that
Remember that God so lovingly placed this little verse in the Bible just for you (Isaiah 40:11):
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
He gently leads those that have young.
That’s you, sweet friend! That’s you….
As you lead your young flock, He leads you. You are in His arms. And they’re not just any arms.
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Deuteronomy 33:27
Those everlasting arms surround you when you’re feeling faint with exhaustion.
Those everlasting arms support yours when you would rather give up.
Those everlasting arms give yours strength to tackle the daily tasks with which you’re faced.
Oh, I know that it’s a joy for you to serve your precious little gifts, but I also know how invisible you sometimes feel.
How you miss the old you – the capable one who could figure things out, the intelligent one who would read books and contribute to adult conversations, the one who could actually make a cup of coffee and drink it will it’s still hot (not one you made 3 hours ago and never got to drink past the first sip!).
Well, that part of parenting does get easier! Even though your little ones are adorable at the stage they’re at, in order for them to reach the next stage, the more independent one, you need to get them through this one first.
Not alone. Not by your own strength. But with the ever-present help of the One who leads you and has His everlasting arms wrapped tightly around you.
Keep on, dear sister. And sneak in time to smile, to breathe, and to delight in these good ol’ days!
With my love and big hugs,
Tehila
P.S. What would most encourage you on your journey during this season of your life?
