A Letter to Mamas:

“I hope you know you’re CAPABLE & BRAVE & SIGNIFICANT. Even when it feels like you’re not.”

I read that quote and I just stopped and stared. Most days, my reaction to that is less encouraged and more likely to be, “Yeah, no. I sure don’t feel like it.” Because, if we’re being honest, it’s so easy, especially as a mom, to feel unfit, worn out, afraid, ready to give up, and less than. 

Being a mom is no walk in the park. It’s challenging and there are so many days I do not feel capable to handle the emotions of my three year old or the energy of my toddler. I don’t feel brave, I feel boring and like I’m barely surviving. And significant? Ha! I think they meant to write invisible. 

But please dig into this with me for a moment… 

Capable: having the ability necessary. 

Brave: showing courage, ready to face and endure danger and pain

Significant: being worthy of attention. 

“I hope you know you’re capable…”

Did you keep you manage to feed your child today? Was the diaper changed? Did you hug your baby? Did you handle a meltdown? Did you pretend to talk on the phone with her for the nine-hundredth time? Listen to the same story, watch the same movie, play the same sound track again? Did you give your teenager space and grace instead of pushing? Then you are CAPABLE. 

Can I also gently remind you, that God gave you THAT exact baby/babies to care for? And He doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. That means, even when you don’t feel good enough, you’re covered. If He chose you to be that baby’s mama, He is giving (and will continue to give) you what you need to do that job well. He knows your strengths and weaknesses. He also knows what your child needs and He paired you together on purpose.

“I hope you know you’re brave…”

It does not mean you’re not afraid still. Fear is inescapable. But bravery is largely two things: courage and endurance. You show up for your kids every. single. day. You show up when you’re tired and sick and stressed and overwhelmed. 

Raising tiny humans is terrifying. There are so many dangers, so many things we cannot control or protect our children from. Yet you continue on in pursuit of helping those little people grow and mature and learn and change because they were entrusted to you. And each day that you show up for them and love them with all of yourself, you risk heartbreak and disappointment and pain. And that, my friend, that is BRAVE.

“I hope you know you’re significant…”

This is a big one, especially when it feels like nobody notices how hard you work, how much time you put in, the sacrifices you make. It’s hard to believe that you are significant when you barely get so much as a “thank you” from your family. 

Yet the definition doesn’t say “getting attention,” it says being worthy of it. You do not receive near the credit you deserve. But sister, you are worthy of it.

I want you to know, I see you. I see the way you put your kids’ needs before your own. I see you staying up late to put the house back together. I see you sacrificing your personal space to hold your crying infant. I see you working your butt off to provide for your family and give your children the experiences and materials they want. I see you holding your tween as she cries over the latest heartbreak. I see you in the stands cheering on your son at another game when you haven’t had a moment alone in months. I see you. What you’re doing is SIGNIFICANT, even when the ones you are doing it for don’t acknowledge it. 

So right now, I want you to tell yourself the truth. Look in a mirror right now and say to yourself, “I am capable. I am brave. I am significant.” Chin up, babe, because YOU ARE even when it doesn’t feel that way.