I’ve spent many years thinking, dreaming really, of the kid of mom I would be. Do I have what it takes? What if I don’t? What if I do? What if I’m THAT mom… or what if, at the end of the day, the end of my life, this was my true calling, my true purpose in life. The question that is inside most women, that scares them, is not what if I don’t have what it takes, what scares them… what scares me… is what if I DO?

What if I DO have what it takes.

There is something I have learned from the amazing mothers I call friends, the amazing family of “mamma’s” I married into, and from my mom.

Being a mom never means perfection.

It never means you’ve arrived,

and it may never mean you  “feel”  like a “good mom”

The struggle is real, the question of,  “could I have spent more time,” “Should I have said no, said yes,” taken them to that school?” fed them that,”

yelled less, played more, worked less, vacationed more?…

The answer is this, no.

There may be days where your children act up, where they may “hate” you or throw a fit over what color cup you give them, but the reality of it is,

You’ve done incredible.

You ARE doing incredible.

I’ve seen from a distance, and up close –

and I’ve seen under pressure, under circumstances that no family, no woman, should have to go through.

I’ve seen strength in the midst of the scary unknown.

I’ve seen peace, in the midst of discipline.

I’ve seen hope in the midst of brokenness and heartache.

I’ve seen thriving marriages after 2,3,4+ children.

I’ve seen some these woman, in their best, and some quite maybe at their absolute worst- and when I think about the incredible job they are doing,

or they have done- I get emotional.

They make me feel something.

What they make look so effortless to me, many times, on the inside, they are going through silent storms of not feeling good enough.

Feeling lonely- afraid, unsure, and doubting the impact they are making on their children.

But then, there, in the midst of the chaos, the doubt, there’s a moment. A moment where I witness them in their absolute best.

In their “ah-ha” moment…

Telling my mom- that she was going to be a grandma for the first time, after two days later to be diagnosed with breast cancer- the HOPE she has, the strength, the fight, and gentleness about her.

Witnessing the birth of two of my best friends in the entire world, become moms- for the first time, and holding that miracle we use to play dress up and dream about as little girls.

A beautiful friend, building a life with the hunky farmer boy of her dreams, raising 3 beautiful kids, feeling on days like giving up, but the unspoken bond the 5 of them have, leaves me inspired to pursue that as we start a family.

Striking a GOLD MINE of a mother in law- the mother of my husband, who spent years, since the day he was born, praying for his future spouse. Knowing and believing that someday, she would encourage him in his walk with Christ, and together, they would have a marriage designed to pursue the Kingdom of God, and raise a family to do the same.

Watching a little boy and girl, now look to their mommy, in the role of mommy AND daddy…. The pressure that she may feel, defiantly not giving herself enough credit, but knowing in the deepest place of her heart, that her husband would be enamored at the way their two beautiful babies run into her arms, with smiles and spirits that light up the room.

These women, these families, OUR mothers, and the family we are starting now, as I celebrate my “first mother’s day”- help me remember, that I may never feel “ready”.  I may never feel like a “perfect” mom- or like I did enough, or am doing enough. But I know one thing…

I will love gently, seek wisdom, learn selflessness, take the time, believe the best, have the hard conversations, set boundaries, but most importantly,

Pray for them, to be a mother and father who pursue the things of  God as we look to HIM to raise our children, and…

We will BE there. 

We may not always be a FRIEND to our children, there WILL be days we miss it, day’s they may “hate” us, but as we pursue the process over perfection, and the Lord as our provider, we will BE there, all there, which will look different from each mother’s journey- because it will not be theirs, but OURS.

To the Mother’s we celebrate today, and every Mother around the world, may you feel the gentle love of your Heavenly Father cheering you on, and leading you to push forward on days where you don’t think you can…. Remember, you are doing incredible….

You ARE incredible.

Yes, you…. 🙂

Happy Mother’s Day.

blessings, dayna