This morning I woke up in a cold sweat. It’s the day before Thanksgiving. I home school my children and I woke up realizing that I’m a horrible mother because I have not taken the time to prepare a lesson on the Pilgrims. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I haven’t taught my kids about the Mayflower; I am a total failure.
This is a small snippet of the ridiculous and absurd thoughts that I have to intentionally flush down the toilet each day. I have a sneaking suspicion I’m not alone. Mom guilt is real, and it is vicious.
As a foster parent, you will be more susceptible to these assaults of guilty thoughts. Did I make the right decision? Am I capable? Did I force my family into this? What am I doing to my children? These kids would be better somewhere else. And it goes round and round and round.
It is funny how only the bad and negative thoughts seem to get whispered in our ears. There is definitely no cheerleader in my subconscious. Just an angry, bitter spirit who seems to hone in on all my fears and anxieties with some super powered magnifying glass. What’s up with that?
As Christians, we know what’s up with that. We just have to remind ourselves.
Ephesians 6:12 tells us
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
We are at war. We are at war with an enemy we can’t see. It should be no surprise that he whispers. But how to silence those whispers? I don’t want to wake up each day feeling like I’ve failed before I have even started.
Ephesians 6:10-11 tells us
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
The ability to defeat mom guilt has been provided for us. The Bible tells us to be strong in the Lord. The Bible tells us to depend on His might. The Bible doesn’t just tell us to put on armor. It tells us to put on the armor of God. Our God is aware of our enemies’ tactics; He has not left us defenseless.
When I wake up in a panic about some area of failure, my temptation is to pull the covers over my head and go back to bed. Being a mother is such an important role. Our enemy knows that, so we must not be surprised that we will be frequently assaulted, and often from within our own minds.
Ephesians 4:22-23
…lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Those twinges of mom guilt are important. They are important reminders that I must lay aside those feelings and fears and instead be renewed in the spirit of my mind. I must put on the new self, a self that has been created in the likeness of God, created in righteousness and holiness and truth. A creation like that can recognize a guilty lie. A creation like that can laugh when mom guilt sails their way in the form of pilgrims and the Mayflower.
So I woke up today freaking out. But I will not live the day that way. I will begin my day with joy and in victory.
2 Corinthians 12:9-11
9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
To read about the approach of Arizona Faith and Families to foster care and adoption click here. Or to find out more about becoming a foster parent in Arizona please visit our Licensing page.
Thank you Nikki. I needed that!