I found myself sitting in the bathroom eating a candy bar last night. I had the shower running to give the illusion that I was doing something productive. I know that some of you just cringed at the thought of eating in the bathroom. I regret to inform you I just don’t care about stuff like that. I also don’t care if the McRib is made out of real meat or if my children are wearing matching socks. I do, however, care that Toby from This is Us is not really overweight. I feel lied to now that I know he’s wearing a “fat suit.”
I just choose to not get worked up over certain issues. As I sat there alone with my Almond Joy, I was thinking about a conversation we had in Sunday School on the humility of Christ. How was He able to not get worked up all the time and to maintain humility when the people treated Him so poorly? Here’s what I think. Jesus was completely confident in who He was as God and in His ability to do what God had sent Him to do. It didn’t matter if the people mocked, questioned or refused to believe. He knew He was God.
People who are confident in who God created them to be and the task God has given them to do can be humble. They don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room. They don’t feel the need to air all of their thoughts on all the things. Humble people hear other people. They are not threatened by the opinions of others. So, when that mom sees your photo on Instagram and is all, “I can’t believe she doesn’t
have her child rear-facing; he’s only thirteen,” you can smile and move on with your life.
I’m about to tell you something that will set. you. free. You don’t have to attend every argument to which you’re invited. You can humbly decline the invitation when you are confident in your God-given mothering instincts and abilities.
You can handle this mothering gig, my friends.
You are loved. <3
Ten Tips for Navigating Motherhood
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Have a heart that is humble.
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Have a faith that is firm.
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Be careful with criticism.
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Choose the Word over the world.
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Have a character that is kind.
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Let go of guilt.
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Embrace grace.
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Follow Christ – not the crowd.
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Be more concerned with authenticity than appearances.
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A side of yogurt makes any meal healthy.
Eating in the bathroom is fine. It’s totally a mental thing. It doesn’t have more germs than any other room of the house. Also, I completely agree that when you are secure and confident in yourself, then other people can be different and you are fine with that. When you’re confident in your faith, other religions or questions about your faith (even critical ones) don’t make you feel threatened. When you’re confident in your mothering abilities, people who criticize or do it differently don’t bother you at all. Great thoughts.