Hello to all you mamas at Made to Mother! I am so happy to guest post here today!
I have to admit, ladies, that I feel weak. Not just right now, but almost all of the time.
The pace of this life and of motherhood in general has me exhausted! Kids’ schedules are ridiculously packed with events! Between my own obligations, my ministry, my kids’ schedules, and events, there are days that I don’t sit down from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. (I know you feel my pain!) There are days when I don’t get breakfast or lunch. Oh sweet mamas, this job is exhausting!
I am willing to bet that many of you have felt like this a time or two. Major burn-out seems to be an accepted way of life for us these days. I’d like to share a true story, of a very embarrassing moment of exhaustion in my mothering journey, and the lesson that came from it…
The week of this story was no different than most. I thought I was fighting motherhood burn-out well. I was already three very full, busy days into the week, and felt calm and collected, and able to keep on moving forward through my crazy busy life! Then, it happened. As I was going about my day job diligently, my son’s school called to remind me that I was late for a very important meeting! This was not just any meeting, but a 504 Plan meeting that I had been requesting and praying for four years. There were five school professionals waiting for me a twenty minute drive away, and I had forgotten all about the meeting!
As I ran from my desk to my car, and called in backups; I felt more rushed and exhausted than ever! I felt panic and I felt powerless. I felt embarrassed and like a failure for having forgotten about such a very important meeting! I jogged into the meeting short of breath and generously apologized from the humbled, embarrassed depth of my heart. I was astonished that I had been so mentally weak from life in general that I had checked out on the most important event in my week!
They accepted my apology (some of them were moms themselves and even gave me an ‘I understand completely’ smile). The meeting went very well, and as I left it, I felt triumphant. I felt strength and motivation overcome me.
Dear mamas, we have so much on our plates every day, but we can do this! It has been said, “There is nothing you cannot do with a whole lot of faith and a little bit of coffee.” That is my motto! (well, maybe a whole lot of coffee, too). Faith enables us to make it through the craziness of life.
After that day’s chaos, I felt the need to look back at all of the ‘busy-ness’ on my calendar; all of the ‘perceived obligations’ that stole my time from me, and I prayed for God to give me the strength to discern the difference between the events on my calendar that are optional and the events that are non-negotiable.
Using that time of weakness and deep embarrassment, the Lord made clear to me once again which items on my calendar are worth the rush associated with making them happen, and which are not. The strength within me was renewed to say NO to the ‘perceived obligations,’ and always an emphatic YES to love, proud parenting, and God’s guidance!
Here I sit, typing with pride, as a woman renewed with the strength and power to stand up for what’s important to me. I hope and pray that you can find daily strength in the many moments of weakness, too. Know that we are all on this crazy journey of motherhood together, and that we all mess up, feel spent, and want to give up sometimes. But remember that we were made for this, and we CAN handle it! Sweet mama, you are strong enough!
I constantly find strength in the weaknesses that God puts before me, and I look forward to using that strength to slow the rush, and focus on what’s truly important! May your upcoming week be full of strength and the power to stand up for what is truly important to you!
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Angie Kutzer lives in Bismarck, North Dakota, with her husband and two sons, ages 12 and 9. Her favorite moments in life are the snuggly ones spent with her children, and her middle-of-the-night conversations with God.
“Inspire” is the one-word answer for the goal of Angie’s ministry. She started her blog, From My Life To Your Heart, in order to share positive life lessons, encourage perseverance, and be opened about real life, with everyone she encounters, and as a means to inspire living a full life in faith and hope. If you are looking for even more encouragement on this journey of motherhood, please check out Angie’s NEW book, I Heart Mom: Stories of Women Held Together by the Strongest of Threads, in the Thin, Frayed Edges of Motherhood with real, raw stories of motherhood.
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