May 3, 2013
Super Mom is a Fairy Tale
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do no grow weary, (Galatians 6:9, NIV).
Friend to Friend
Don’t you just detest those mothers who seem to have it all together? You know her: super-mom. She is that mythical creature who never yells at her kids. Whose house is always spotless, whose children always obey quickly and quietly, who prepares three meals a day that are nutritious and aesthetically pleasing…the one who is a “successful” mother.
If there is anything that can discourage a hard working mom, it is comparing herself to this creature, which only exists in storybooks. If we think someone is a super-mom, most likely her cape is ripped, her tights are tattered, and her special powers to get her kids to act right got lost in a cluttered closet somewhere. I can assure you that every mother who appears to breeze effortlessly through life has struggles of her own.
When I taught my husband to snow ski, I showed him how to turn his skis toward the side of the mountain to slow down. Inevitably he turned too much to the left or right and ended up with his skis pointing up the mountain. He then proceeded to slide down the mountain backwards. After a few trials and lots of error, he discovered that when he turned, if he just continued turning his skis, making a complete circle, it would slow him down and he wouldn’t end up going down hill backwards.
It was a sight to behold, but it worked. At the end of the day, a woman came up to Steve and asked if he could show her how to make those “beautiful circles.” Of course he obliged. She thought he was an expert skier who was doing some form of acrobatics. In actuality, he was going in circles, doing whatever it took to keep from going down hill, backwards.
When you look around and see other mothers who appear to be “mothering” better than you, don’t be fooled. They are probably doing whatever it takes not to go downhill backwards.
Successful mothers are not the ones who have never struggled. They are the ones who never give up, despite the struggles.
Calvin Coolidge said, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan, “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
I’d like to add that God is the only One Who is Omnipotent, but persistence and determination while relying on His power brings great results!
Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do no grow weary.” That’s a promise that we all can cling to.
Let’s Pray
Dear God, sometimes I feel like I am going in circles. Help me not compare myself to other moms who seem to be “doing it better,” but to keep my eyes on You. I pray that You will help me be the best mom I can be to the children You have given me.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Since May is the month of Mother’s Day, let’s pray for the moms in our GiG Family. Please log onto www.sharonjaynes.com, give your name and state in the comment box (or country if out of the US), and pray for the name ahead and behind yours. I’ll pray for the first mom.
More from the Girlfriends
Being a great mom reminds me of the story of a world famous violinist. An admiring fan ran up to him one day and cried, “Mr. Kreisler, I’d give my life to play as you do!” To that he replied, “Madam, I did.” Being a great mom is a diligent investment of sacrifices that reaps dividends with compounded interest over time. If you’d like to sharpen your parenting skills, check out my book, Being a Great Mom-Raising Great Kids. It is a storehouse of encouragement for one of the most important jobs on earth.
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