There’s an English Proverbs that says “A Smooth Sea Never Made a Skilled Sailor,” that I believe really applies to motherhood. I mean think about it, if we always had picture perfect days, would we really be a good mom? In my opinion, I believe that it’s the rocky days, the difficult moments, the times when we have almost lost our patience forever, that make us the moms we are.
Recently, I had a day that nothing was going well. Michael was whining for cookies, milk, to get on the couch (the list goes on), I was trying to clean the house and I had dog and child in my way (or in the pile of dog hair I was trying to sweep into a nice pile), my allergies were acting up and the dog ran through the screen door knocking it off the hinge and hitting me in the head. It was a rough day. I was exhausted, body and mind. I ran out of patience, I yelled (regretted it immediately) and I had no idea how I was going to make it the rest of the day. I’m not the only one that has these days right?
It’s those days, that whether I know it or not, are molding me into the mother I need to be. I learn to be more patient, I learn how horrible I feel when I yell and I know that I can handle it. Why? Because God equipped me that way. He is preparing us through these hard times to be a better mom. Life isn’t smooth sailing. There’s waves crashing against the boat. There’s storms we can see brewing in the distance. Don’t forget the rocking of the boat. All of those hurdles, no matter how big or small, are all preparations. They are learning experiences. That bad day I had, was just a bad day making me the mom I am. It is showing me how much I can handle. All the things I can go through. I am a better mom today than I was yesterday because the sea isn’t smooth.
Do you remember the story of Jesus calming the storm? In case you don’t, Mark 4:35-41 says: 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Let that story sink in. Read it again if you need to. Jesus calmed the storm. He was able to stop the rain, the wind and the waves. Think about what He could do for you during your storms because motherhood is full of them. When you feel yourself losing the battle, turn to Him. Ask Him to help you, to guide you. He knows what we can handle and He is there for us when we need Him.
The next time the sea is raging, remember God is on your side and “a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” You got this mom!
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