It’s the day before Christmas and all through the house,
A mama’s work is strewn about.
Forget the tinsel, forget the sparkle or excitement in the air.
Little mama is stressed about the “shouldas, could haves and “but we did that last year.”
As she hustles to pull cookies half burnt out of the oven, the angel in the Nativity scene catches her eye.
She studies his face, remembering the grace which came with his announcement of the birth of the King most High,
She breathes a deep breath and let’s go of the all the work surrounding her because tomorrow is Christmas
Work undone but heart now centered on the meaning of the season, she surrenders to grace and His reason.
Ahem—that little mama happens to me and let me tell you about the guilt which seems to have piled on thick. A year filled with tons of changes like going from a stay at home mom, to a business mom to a working outside the home mom, has put a damper on traditions and added weighty expectations. It’s any wonder I’m still sane and my kids are growing.
As I stared at the Angel, my mind drifts to the first Christmas, a night of excitement and joy. A night where the only expectation was what the shepherds would find under the star of Bethlehem. There wasn’t pressure to have 300 sugar cookies baked, 200 Christmas cards and letters mailed, another 50 thank yous to the kid’s teachers on top of casseroles prepped for new moms baked and a home filled with the perfect tinsel and Christmas décor.
Christmas is the celebration of Christ’s birth and his presence ushering peace. I wonder how you and I both would feel if we could just rest in his peace instead of wading in guilt. Forget the expectations of being the perfect mom and let’s get real for a sec.
Did your heart fill with joy last year over the newest star on the tree or did it brim over from connecting with family and friends?
Did checking off your crazy-busy to do list cause your eyes to tear with thankfulness or was it spending a few quiet moments talking to Jesus in the glow of Christmas lights as snow fell to the ground outside your window?
The guilt stops here.
Let this Christmas give you cause to throw out those crazy expectations and allow yourself to fill the longings of your heart—to hug a longtime friend, to treasure your daughter’s idea of ice-skating in socks across the wood floors, and revel in your son’s accurate aim with his sling shot as he takes down army men camped around Christmas presents and shoes.
Unpack your bags of trying to be the best mom and settle for being YOU, surrounded by friends, family and the warmth of tomorrow’s coming. As Christmas morning dawns, breathe in his goodness, his gift and let go of expectations and guilt.
Merry Christmas to you from us all at The Mom Initiative!
Heather is a favorite speaker among Nebraska women, sharing from her past of failures and triumph as “The Real Mom.” Her mantra for ministry is Real Life, Real Moms, Real Faith. When she isn’t producing the news at Nebraska.tv or tweeting the latest about her church New Life Assembly, or hanging with her MOPS moms, she is sharing about her first love–Jesus.
Her passion is to share how women/moms are made whole in Jesus at her blog: Falling to Peace(s): Thoughts on grace, letting, & imperfection. There she blogs about parenting special needs kids, vegan recipes, tattoos, all things motherhood, and being imperfectly perfect in God’s eyes. She is the author of Mama Needs a Time Out and has two other books due out next fall.
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