Wearing Motherhood Well

Have you ever looked into the mirror and inwardly groan as you try to tuck those stray hairs away? Or sighed as you see remnants of yesterday’s (or was it the day before) makeup smeared under your eyes? Today I want to talk about wearing motherhood well.

By wearing motherhood well I’m not talking about those amazing specimens of moms who look amazing 5 days after giving birth and are by all outward appearances rocking this “mommyhood” thing. No, I’m talking about fully embracing who you are at this moment.

Wearing Motherhood Well

A few days ago we had a good day. Now all days are good, but some are exceptionally good.

Good as in I got two solid 3-hour stretches of sleep with a little extra tacked onto either end for good measure the night before. Good as in the boys took nice naps and the baby was only minimally fussy. Good as in the toddler didn’t have a single accident (accidents have been common since the baby came along).

It was an exceptionally good day and I was pleased with what we had accomplished.

As I walked by the mirror, I glanced at it and smiled. “Motherhood looks good on me” I thought, “why I even look pretty!” And we all know that being able to look in the mirror and find oneself to be pretty really takes a good mindset.

But I got to thinking. Does motherhood look good on me when it’s not been an exceptionally good day? Am I wearing motherhood well even when I’m woke up every 2 hours or less at night, the baby cries all day and the toddler messes his pants?

Am I wearing motherhood well when I look in the mirror and cringe at the dark circles and frowzy hair? Am I wearing motherhood well when nothing goes well?

I’ve had lots of time to sit and think about this. Or rather I should say “rock” and think about it. I’ve tried all week to write this post and each time I sit down to write it seems like one or both of the boys needed something.

What does it mean to wear motherhood well?

I call to mind the story of Elijah and Elisha. As Elijah was caught up into heaven in a whirlwind, a double portion of his spirit fell upon Elisha. The people knew this because he wore Elijah’s cloak.

So maybe motherhood is a proverbial cloak that we place around our shoulders.

Maybe wearing motherhood well means wearing a smile, even on the not so good days. Or wearing a spirit of calm when things get chaotic. Perhaps it simply means always recognizing the blessings that we receive in our children.

Maybe like Elisha of old, we can only place this cloak of motherhood around our shoulders and wear it with grace when we have a double portion of God’s spirit in us.

For it is by God that we receive our blessings and it takes having his spirit within us to raise them well. 

I’m no paragon of virtue here and quite frankly I’m preaching to the choir. However, I want to encourage you dear momma as well.

The next time we look in the mirror and want to cringe, look past the ugly and see your babies. We only have these little ones for a short amount of time and they make all the sleepless nights and grey hairs glorious in light of the bigger picture.

Let’s beg our heavenly father for a double portion of His spirit and begin wearing motherhood well. Even on the days when nothing goes well!