motherhood is a {hard} calling

Being a mom is hard. Our kids are adorable and precious and cute and there are tons of joys and sweet moments but its still hard. really, really hard. Kids know how to push buttons, their emotions are complicated, there's always drama: the highs are so high and the lows are crazy low. They have needs and wants all.the.time, and they rarely appreciate what it takes to keep everything going, let alone to make the fun stuff happen. They sin: their bad attitudes and character flaws make me cringe. they fight, complain and whine. They don't eat, sleep or go potty on command. They require teaching, explaining, consequences, training and re-training. They make messes, have fits, try my patience and bring me to tears of frustration like i've never experienced before.

I am often guilty of living in "wishland"- just wishing i could have a quiet night, a peaceful nap time, an uninterrupted hour to craft, a day without any discipline issues..blah, blah, blah.
But the fact is, they are gifts to me. I am their mom and being their mom is not a hobby, its a calling. and it requires sacrifice. I read this article by a fellow mom tonight and it convicted me more than anything i have ever heard. Here's a quote that brings it all into perspective.

"Live the gospel in the things that no one sees. Sacrifice for your children in places that only they will know about. Put their value ahead of yours. Grow them up in the clean air of gospel living. Your testimony to the gospel in the little details of your life is more valuable to them than you can imagine. If you tell them the gospel, but live to yourself, they will never believe it. Give your life for theirs every day, joyfully. Lay down pettiness. Lay down fussiness. Lay down resentment about the dishes, about the laundry, about how no one knows how hard you work. Stop clinging to yourself and cling to the cross. There is more joy and more life and more laughter on the other side of death than you can possibly carry alone."  
{click here to read the full article}

A few weeks ago, i was especially stressed; the kids had been acting out, there was tons to do on my list, i was tired and cranky and apparently all that showed on my face without me realizing it. That is until, Sophie came up to me and with a sweetly concerned look, put her hand out to touch me and asked, "Mommy, what is wrong with your face? It is sad." I'd like to think my kids surely don't notice and aren't affected by MY sin, but i know that isn't true and that's why this article was something i SO needed to hear and hopefully remember. Anyway, i know this post is fairly random and a bit out of no where, but since i don't journal, this blog is the best place to keep record of it. :) Hopefully it will encourage and challenge you too. :)

 A simple project is coming tomorrow. OH, and this sweet picture of Baby Ben and me was taken by my lovely sister.


linking to: capturing motherhood/