The Many Hats of Womanhood
We live in a world of mom-guilt. Can I get an "amen", or even a Katniss Everdeen finger solute? It's INSANE. You can't feed your kids, spank your kids, raise your voice near your kids, or have a bad mood in the same house as your kids without someone's casually mentioning how you're messing it all up, and it's exhausting. And it's not even just exclusive to my role as their mom. It's also my ability to wife, daughter, friend, granddaughter, etc. etc. etc., that regularly turn the heads of bystanders with opinions about the choices I make.
In this very busy and chaotic season of life, we have take-out a lot. Like, a lot. We let our kids use tablets, and some days we don't even track how long they've used them. *Insert mom gasps* Calm down, momma…they're fine, and they're MINE. Occasionally they miss a shower, forget to brush their teeth or have pop tarts for breakfast. We've watched scary movies with them on more than one occasion, my 4-year-old still sleeps in the bed with us, and I don't use organic, drained directly from the stem of some plant, counter cleaner. (Someone is going to have a heart attack.) I don't know about you, but on a daily basis, I get a little anxious because I'm not making the same "clean" choices as my beautiful hippie momma friend on Instagram.
"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; From her profits, she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates." - Proverbs 31:10-13
The scriptures we've all read and strived for. We all desperately want to be this wife and mother, at least I hope we do. J But when I read these scriptures, what I read is of a woman who loves her husband and children, as well as God's people, and busts her rear to make sure every need is met. I don't see her worrying about what anyone has to say about it (although, even then, I'm sure there was always someone). I can't imagine that she concerned herself with the ridicule of mommas who did it slightly differently, or even better. I see a woman who sees the man she loves, the children they made, and the home they've been blessed with and got to work.
This month, I challenge you to get off their Instagram, stop glancing at your neighbors, stop beating yourself up when you fall short, and remind yourself that those babies were entrusted to YOU for this short time. That man was made FOR YOU in this lifetime. That house, job, laundry, family member, friend, and church body was prepared in advance for you. Give yourself some grace, laugh about it, and give it to Him.
As always, thank you for letting me share my heart with you.
#gpdoneonpurpose
