Moms walk a fine line. The balance beam of motherhood isn’t for the faint of heart.
Here is the irony of the situation:
It’s comical really—the expectations we place on ourselves or that we allow society to place on us. But with or without expectations, the job of motherhood is indeed a slippery one. We can tumble off the balance beam in either direction. We can watch our children too closely (and really, can you imagine trying to conquer adolescence with your mom’s giant staring face evaluating your every move?), or we can become lazy or discouraged and back off too much (and that’s just as frightening).
Which way do you lean on the beam? And how do we moms stand solidly on that thin little board anyway?
God tells us. We really can “teach them diligently,” (Deuteronomy 6:7) and “laugh at the days to come” (Proverbs 31:25) at the same time. Isn’t that an attractive picture? It’s who I want to be: training my kids faithfully, encouraging them, reminding them of the power of the gospel, showing them Christ. And at the same time, laying down my desire for control, laughing when things go wrong, embracing the craziness of the moment.
God knows us. He knows what kind of moms we are and what kind of children he’s given us. He sees the hopes, the fears, the joys, the failures, and even the explosions. Because of Christ, he invites us to confidently “draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
So we can ask God for fresh faith to start a personal conversation, question a movie choice, or express more affection to our kids. We need to keep moving forward on that balance beam. Then, as we place our foot down after each step, we find stability and balance because we “trust in the Lord with all your heart” (Proverbs 3:5).
We may not feel very graceful, but God will help us walk the beam, one step at a time. And when we falter, which we will, his firm hand will steady us. So take a bow, mom. You’re doing a great job.
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Trish Donohue is a wife and mom who writes from her kitchen table in West Chester, PA. Donohue currently leads the women’s ministry at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, PA, where her husband, Jim, serves as pastor. A desire to disciple her two daughters paired with a love for writing motivated the writing of her first book, Between Us Girls. Visit Trish’s blog at www.reminding-myself.com.