The Mama Guilt Battle

Guilt...usually something referred to after committing an offense or a feeling after something you have done wrong.  Then why so often do I feel this emotion as a mother.  I mean I love staying home with our boys.  It's truly a privilege and it has paid off more than any monetary value ever could.  I have friends who would love to be able to stay home with their little ones.  But whether you are a stay at home mama or a working mama, this feeling of guilt creeps its ugly head into our mind and thoughts. 

There are days when I look a total mess...buried under a mountain of laundry, still in my jams, trying to find a few minutes to shower, making a grocery list, dishwasher full, sink full, need to vaccuum, trash full, toys are everywhere, deciding on dinner, check on the animals...aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh the list goes on.  I feel overwhelmed.  And on top of that I need to give my boys the attention that they need.  How do we do it all and make time for our husbands at the end of the day??? 

It's an ugly thing this mama guilt.  It robs me of joy, whispers lies, and tells me I will never be good enough.

The things that help me through are the powerful truths in the word that refute the lies the enemy is trying to feed me. 

2 Corinthians 12:9,10 “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. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Romans 8:1-3a “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.”

Philippians 4: 4-6 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

So here I am trying to boast in my weakness.  Deciding today not to feel the lie of condemnation.  That is not from my God.  Remind yourself the list is not a MUST to get done today.  The list will be there tomorrow.  I'm not saying that you should just let your house fall apart, but these little lives that you are touching matter much more for eternity.  No one ever said, "man if I only could have mopped that floor one more time."  ;) 

I know each day I am going to have to renew my committment to choose joy, choose love, choose to get done what I can and get to the rest later.  I want to enjoy these few years while my children are at home.  Enjoy them and play and learn with them.  Enjoy sitting on the porch with my husband and drinking a glass of iced tea watching Brody run like a maniac.  This life is too quick...