God sees you Mama,

It's okay.

Becoming a mom was the most difficult thing I've ever done. From labor to cracker crumbs, hands down HARD. And it's so much more than just that, right? Yes, It's incredibly rewarding and I think the weight of the responsibility I can carry a little more than I was ever meant to. Let me explain...but first Mama, Can I invite you to do a grounding exercise with me?

If that was a yes, take a deep breath in for 4 seconds.....hold for two seconds ….. now breathe out for four seconds. Do that once more with your eyes closed. How did that feel? Maybe a bit like things slowed down for a moment? Were you able to slow down your breathing? Catch a breath? This is the invitation our Heavenly Father extends to us.

He is giving us the "okay" to being fully present, the thumbs up to hand over everything that feels too heavy, and a big reassuring hug that says He understands. We can trust Him. Father God, Abba, The Good Shepherd. He doesn't bless us to stress us - He pours out His blessings on us to increase our enjoyment of them. And I can promise you, I've come to realize this the hard way, by missing out on way too many opportunities to just breathe.

I've tried to carry the weight of all of my new found responsibilities, almost out of desperation to hold it all together, to make it all "right" and probably out of a place of proving... to myself, those I love, and God that "I've got this" -- when in reality... I most definitely don't "got this." And that's a beautiful thing. I can't tell you how many times since becoming a Mom I've said "I feel like I need 5 arms." You too?! Can I tell you He's got the whole world in His hands? I have installed a whole library into my mind to hold all of my new files of information, lists upon lists, back up plans for back up plans, You too?!

Mama, His plans are higher than ours. There isn't enough dry erase board for some of the moments I've felt the need to strategize absolutely every moment and possibility that could come our way, all of this in the good mantra of "being prepared." YOU TOO?! The plans He has for us are for good and not for evil, and He will not stop the good work that He has started until it's completed!

The best part, God smiles at us as our hearts go out to our families, and he kneels down so sweetly to say, "Can I help?" His sweet presence ever so near in the most mundane, the dish washing, the folding clothes - ever so near, our comforter, calling us to a place of abiding with Him. In His greatness, His shoulders are bigger than we can imagine, His hands stronger than steel. In his kindness, there is nothing too big, or too small that He does not want to carry for us. In His sovereignty, He knows all. In his closeness, His ear turns towards our whispers. In His humanity, He feels our deepest pain.