As a new mother of a two-year-old, I learned to give myself grace in my day-to-day activities. As a do-it-yourself and a get-it-done kind of person, giving myself grace was a foreign concept. However, when the pressure of attempting to do several tasks, including laundry, cleaning, changing diapers, and the list goes on, became overwhelming, I realized that I needed to give myself grace.
We can give ourselves grace because God gives us grace. God's grace is a free gift and given to all who trust and believe in Him. Ephesians 2:8 states, "for by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." It is by God's grace that we are saved and not condemned or punished for the wrong that we do. As a result, we can be gracious to ourselves as mothers since God is gracious to us. We no longer have to live by the "mom guilt" mentality or pressuring ourselves to be perfect. Instead, we can lean on God to help us be the mothers He has called us to be.
We can rely on God's grace in our daily calling as mothers.
We can rely on God's grace in our daily calling as mothers. 2 Corinthians 12:9 states, "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." Where we struggle in certain areas, God's grace is sufficient for us in everything. I mean everything! When we rely on God in areas where we feel insecure or unqualified, we can ask God for His help, His guidance, and His security. We can ask Him to protect our children when they are at school or any place they go. We can ask God to help us manage our time or be more efficient with balancing work obligations and home commitments.
God is always gracious to us, so we should be gracious to ourselves, and in turn, we learn to be gracious to others.
So, what does grace look like? Giving yourself grace looks like washing the laundry on another day if you're unable to do it; it's reaching out for help when you need it, it's making time, and giving allowances for people you love and care about. Essentially, it is being kind to yourself and relying on God to help you in your calling as a mother. God is always gracious to us, so we should be gracious to ourselves, and in turn, we learn to be gracious to others.
God's grace empowers us to be good mothers. When we give ourselves grace as mothers, we give ourselves permission to stand in God and operate in God.
Let Us Pray-.
Dear God,
You have been so gracious to me, and I thank you for that! Help me in those areas where I struggle as a mother. Help me to rely on your grace to empower me and set me free. I love you because you are kind and gentle to me. Help me to be kind and gentle to myself as a mother.
In Jesus name,
Amen