It's okay for us to cry out to God and share with Him our feelings of exhaustion and emptiness, but we don’t want to stay there.

Psalm 6:6-7

I am worn out from my groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.

Moms witness pity parties every week.  When our children do not get their way, they pitch little fits of rage and then they begin to feel sorry for themselves. Teenagers are the worst because they believe that the whole world is against them and they are the only ones that are suffering in such a horrible way. 

But, actually we, as moms, can also put on a pretty good pity party ourselves.  Unfortunately, you know it’s true!  Our husband gets a trip to another country-- all expenses paid, flies first class, staying at a five-star hotel, eating steak dinners, etc.  Then we begin our pity party: we are stuck at home with the children yet again, eating hot dogs and mac n’ cheese.  It’s easy to do.  We groan and complain that the never-ending job of a mom is way harder than we ever realized and we complain how no one ever volunteers to help out or watch the children. But, moms, don’t stay in the pit of your pity party- it will only make you bitter and cold. 

Realize that many times hard and good run on parallel lines.  We say to ourselves, “This is so hard!” but then we get to experience this deep love for our children and we say, “This is so good.”  Life is usually both.  One reason being a parent is so rewarding is because you work hard at it and then you get to see your children bloom right in front of your eyes. There is nothing better.

Prayer

Father,

Help me to rise above feeling sorry for myself.  I believe it’s okay to cry out to You and share with You my feelings of exhaustion and emptiness, but I don’t want to stay there. Show me the “good” things about being a mom and help me stay focused on those things.  In YOU I can do this very hard job of being a mom and in You I can do it well.