Someone needs this reminder..

Dear Mama,

     I am so proud of you.

     I watch you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock time and time again in the mornings before your weary feet hit the floor. You pause before standing up because you know that from this point on you’ll be on them all day. You rush to jump in the shower, throw on your clothes and put a full face on before going out into the real world, wondering how on earth you’ll make it through another day.

     I see you standing in the doorway contemplating whether or not to wake up that sleeping babe that’s nestled into a knot in her big girl bed. You wake her and hurry her to eat breakfast while you rush around making beds, washing left over dishes and packing all of the bags into the car that you will both need for the day.

     You buckle her in to her car seat and as you walk around the car you start the checklist in your head. Her lunch, your lunch, phone, keys, lock door – check. Now, you’re off.

     I hear you as you speak to her on the drive to the sitter about what her plans are for the day. “Are you going to see your friends?”, “Do you think you will play outside?”, anything to keep your mind off of the fact that you are leaving her yet again for another day. I know sometimes you question whether or not if what you do really matters, but it does Mama.

     I hear you praying for her as you walk out of the door to continue on your journey to work. Once you are back in your car, your mind shifts to the pile of papers waiting for you on your desk and the multitude of errands you need to run when you get off.

     You park your car and put on your professional face. You jog into the door trying to make it to your desk to check e-mails before the flood gates open. I hear you all day on the phone calling here there and everywhere making sure everyone has everything they need before deadlines come up. Scheduling appointments and paying bills in between.

     When your work day ends and you go back into Mama mode again, you start the before bedtime checklist. Unpack bags, feed everyone, wash dishes, bath time, story time, bed time. Whew, you are so busy, Mama.

     I know it seems like the list of to do’s are never ending- but it won’t always be this way. I see you glance at the clock, because for now life runs on time - and you never seem to have enough of it. You have just enough energy to make it through the after dinner tantrums and bath time. It’s okay to feel a little bit relieved when she finally closes her eyes for the night.

     I watch you as you melt into the hot bath to wash off another long day. As you stumble into the bed that you’ll soon climb out of, you go over all of the “should haves” in your mind because when you have all things parenting lying on your plate, you tend to second guess whether or not you have fulfilled everything that sweet one needs.

     Don’t you dare feel guilty, Mama. More times than not, you have gone through the entire day alone. You have battled all of the hard parts of parenting solo, and that little one will go bed yet again without seeing her Daddy. Sometimes days in a row. Don’t fret Mama, she knows her Daddy loves you both. He is doing kingdom work- and so are you.

     Tomorrow will be another day, and whether you are navigating it alone or with the help of your husband, know that your display of love is shepherding that sweet little heart of hers closer to God.

     Have that time to yourself. Sneak that candy bar in the car. Go on that girls trip.
     You are doing a great job Mama, I am so proud of you.