When I started this blog and named it Surviving Toddlerhood, the name was meant to be funny, and a little clicky baity too. At one point I started the process to change the name to something I felt better reflected what I wanted to convey about motherhood- that you can thrive as a mother. Your life as a mother isn’t one that you should survive, it is a journey on which you can thrive.
As I was thinking more about the potential name change, about what it can teach me and other women too. When I viewed motherhood and the toddlet stage as something to survive, I was living rather selfishly in my role. Instead of focusing on the beauty of each stage, I was worried about how I was going to get back in shape, or when I would get more time to myself, or many other things that were ME focused. But when I started laying self down, presenting my body as an offering, being a servant, realigning my heart, and leabing expectations behind, that is when I started thriving as a mother.
A newborn baby isn’t selfish because they need to eat and they need their momma, but my reactions to those needs can be selfish.
A toddler needs help managing their emotions and learning to express things in an appropriate manner over me fussing about the the time it is taking and wondering how long it will take them to learn these things.
A teenager needs some laone time and food, more than me worrying about how people perceive me and my parenting through the teen’s actions.
It seemed like a revalation to me, that thriving comes in the laying down of self. That instead of surviving in selfishness, thriving would come in service. But it shouldn’t.
“Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. ” Matthew 11:28-30
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
So if you feel like you are in suvival mode and you can’t find a way out, maybe you just need to start letting go of expectations and looking at how you can serve more.
Lay down self and your burden and take on Christ’s light yoke.
Offer your body as a living sacrifice.
Allow the Spirit to refine you and make you into a better reflection of Christ.
Plant your roots deep, and you WILL THRIVE.
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