Encouragement For Worn Out Moms: Part Two

If you missed my last post, I shared some encouraging words for moms like me who get worn out.  To see the whole post CLICK HERE.

Here’s an excerpt to get you up to speed:

The past couple weeks I have been worn out.

After a hard week, I went to church stuck in a pity party.  Yes I slapped on a smile, but underneath it all I was struggling.  Then my pastor said a few precious words that hit me like a ton of bricks.

He was talking about this verse from 1 Corinthians 15:58:

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

He then gave modern day examples of what it looks like to abound in the work of the Lord.  The first example was about stay-at-home moms.

“Abound in the work of the Lord: meaning wherever you are, there’s a reason God put you there.  Do you realize that abounding in the work of the Lord for some is changing smelly diapers?  And wiping snotty noses?  I always talk to stay-at-home moms: what you do is so vitally important.  And it’s pleasing to your Father and great worth in His sight.  Because you’re investing in the family that He’s entrusted to you.  You are investing in the lives of your children…very very important!  I don’t ever want a stay-at-home mom or stay-at-home-dad to say that what I do is not important.  It’s critically important.  It’s HARD work.”

At first, hearing my pastor say this made me want to stand up and shout “YES!”.  Hearing that recognition and encouragement was so powerful.  Then the more he talked, his words made me practically bawl {which is not like me at all}

So why was I crying so much?

Two reasons.

The first reason I covered in my last post.  You can read all about it here.

Now, on to the second reason {which was much more personal than the first}

2) I needed to hear my Father’s approval

I didn’t realize it back then but I do now–whenever something big was going on in my life, having my Dad’s approval and support was a huge deal to me.

• When I was a track athlete, my Dad came to most of my meets to cheer me on.
• When the hubby and I bought our house, I didn’t feel freedom to put in the offer until I heard Dad’s approval.
• When I won the employee of the year award at work, Dad was deep into his battle with cancer.   He was very weak and could barely talk.  When I told him about the award, he mustered up all the strength he had to sit up and tell me that he was proud of me.  I’m so thankful that I got to hear that from him, especially when it was so physically hard for him to do it.

Then in 2009, my world turned upside down.  My father lost his battle with cancer and died.  Three days later my daughter was born premature.

Three days.

Dad missed seeing his first grandchild.

He didn’t get to see me become a mom.

Right after Dad died, I was thrown into motherhood 4.5 weeks early.  I was too distracted to grieve.  I didn’t have time to grieve.  I had to learn how to be a mom for the first time.

When I have a really hard day, a little encouragement goes a long way.  One of the things I miss most about Dad is his encouragement.  He wasn’t a man of many words, but when he said something it was usually pretty powerful.

After thinking about it, the meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:58  had such a profound effect on me that day because I needed to hear my Father’s approval.  Hearing my pastor say that my job as a mom is so valuable and my work is of great worth in God’s sight was hearing His approval.

God made it a point that day to tell me He sees the hard work I do as a stay-at-home mom.  I’ve obeyed Him and I’m doing the things He’s asked me to do.  He approves of me as a mother & He’s proud of me.  He’s giving me the approval I was missing from my father.

I’ll always miss my Dad.  But I have to remember that my Heavenly Father is with me.   I can go to Him to get the strength, patience, and peace I don’t have on my own.  When I’m spending all day putting my kids in time-outs and pulling my hair out, I know I’ve got His approval.

Just like my Dad’s approval, that’s all I needed to hear.

I want to know:

• What helps you to cope when you’re worn out?
• What are the most encouraging words you’ve received about parenting?

{This post linked to Inspire Me Please Weekend Blog Hop, Give Me The Goods and In and Out of the Kitchen}