Gender Reveal vs. No Gender Reveal. Genetic Testing vs No Genetic testing. Vaginal vs C-Section. Home Birth vs Hospital Birth. Breast feeding vs Formula Feeding Vs Pumping. Co-Sleeping vs Sleep Training. Working vs Staying at Home. Perfect Play Room Vs Toys Scattered Everywhere. Keeping Baby Weight vs. Losing All of It. Screen Time vs. No Screen Time.

There are so many decisions, opinions, and choices to be made when becoming a mother. It can feel SO overwhelming as if you’re always missing something or you’re not good enough. OR somehow because you don’t have all the answers now your child is going to suffer and not make his or hers milestones on time. That everyone is going to find out what kind of phony mom you are because clearly you aren’t making the right choices. This is the reality of my life right now. My name is Sarah and I wanted to start this blog to encourage mother’s with the reality of life and to that they CAN in fact find Jesus in the day to day.

Have you ever been there? Constant negative thoughts and emotions swirling around your identity as a mom. Letting comparison creep in. Well this mom is doing this and this mom is doing that. Am I doing it wrong ? Are the choices I’m making the right ones for my sweet babes? ME!!! I have and I am still there often days.

Being a new mom is so hard. Yes it is joyous and rewarding and blah blah blah BUT FOR REAL,, ANYONE ELSE ON THE STRUGGLE BUS? Like let’s cut the BS of pretending everything is okay and that we are just enjoying the crap out of our screaming new borns, teething 6 month olds, & destructive toddlers. Like this things is freaking hard sometimes!! Guess what? THAT IS OKAY!

It is okay to say I am having a hard day. It is okay to say I need a break. It is okay to not be perfect. The reality is we NEED Jesus in this season. Obviously we need Him in every season but I have truly found myself in desperation for Him in this new mom phase. You know what else we need as new moms? Community. A village. People to carry our mat. You know what gets in the way of this village? Of a true community found in Jesus? Comparison.

Comparison absolutely destroys our community as moms. It divides us and isolates us in the most difficult transition and season of our life. When we need each other the most, Satan is right there to whisper the lies of “you’re not good enough” and “she’s doing it way better than you”. The guilt and shame that he inflicts on us of “it’s so selfish of you to take shower” or “how could your husband ever love this body again”. I could go on and on about all of the lies I’ve let him tell me and all of the daily battles of comparison I am currently walking through. The expectations we put on ourselves to be perfect is so unrealistic. It’s almost debilitating at some points.

My point in saying all of this is YOU’RE NOT ALONE mama. There is peace and comfort found in Jesus. && also there are true mom friends out there ready to be apart of your village. I am not going to give you a lists of do’s and don’ts in how to mother. You have a running list already (Me too). But today I want to offer encouragement and reminders that .. You’re a really good mama. Actually, you are the exact mommy your child or children are supposed to have. God has called you to motherhood and He does not make mistakes. Even in your imperfection, God is using you to love your sweet babes.

So here is my encouragement for today..

1. His grace is sufficient for you. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2. You are not alone. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” Psalm 46:1-3
3. God is your comforter. Rest in that. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for us”. 1 Peter 5:7
4. You are more loved than you could ever imagine. You are a DAUGHTER first and then a mom. “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:18

My hope and prayer for you today mama is that you would find rest for your soul and that the Lord would gift you with a village to help you raise your little ones. That you would know how loved you are and that you are doing a great job. Give grace yourself today. Lots of it. You are not alone in this crazy world we call motherhood.

Love, Sarah