5 Mothering Truths

The first main session at the Hearts at Home Conference was given by Jill Savage, the founder of Hearts at Home.  Jill encouraged us to remember that we are all real people.  We all have real lives, and real stories.  Here are the five things that she believes are true of all mothers.

1.  You are not alone.  We all need others.  We, as women, and more importantly as mothers need friends.  We need friends who are also moms, friends who are not mothers, friends who are married, friends who are single, friends who are all ages.  We need to draw on all of those women and let them help us to be the best that we can be.  We need their stories.  

2.  We have 3 kinds of stories that we need to share.

• Heartwarming - those stories where our kids were just so adorable, where they said I love you for the first time, etc.
• Humerous - those stories where you are STILL laughing at what you did or said last week.
• Hard - those stories that we don't want to share.  The ones that make us feel less than perfect. 
  

We need to stop judging each other.  We need to stick together as mothers and be able to share our stories without fear that we will be judged.  

3.  We need to share our hard stories because they help other moms know they are normal.  We need to know that we are not alone in what we face everyday.  Others have not so perfect kids, not so perfect houses, not so perfect marriages, and not so perfect lives...but it's okay!

4.  We are real moms, and we need a real relationship with a real Jesus.  Think of how much easier it would be if you believed that Jesus was in your everyday life with you; if you believed that He could relate to your everyday activities and struggles.  Think about it...

• He had large crowds follow him everywhere he went.  Don't you?!  I know I have a trail of little ducklings following me every time I walk into another room!
• People wanted to touch him.  I don't know about you, but there is a rare minute during the day when someone is not holding my hand, hugging me, kissing me, getting a piggy back ride, sitting on my lap or hip, etc.  (in fact, as I type Hunter has his hand on my left hand and his head on my shoulder.)
• People woke Jesus from his sleep for help.  I can't even begin to count the number of times I've been woken in the night be a crying baby or a yell for water, a snack, a movie, or security from a bad dream.
• He was a servant to others.  He served in any way he could, including washing others feet.  I KNOW He can relate to me on this point - what job is more a servant's job than a mother?!

5.  Your story isn't finished yet.  Today is the first day of the rest of your story!  Some of us have made mistakes in the past.  It's okay because our story isn't over!  Jesus is all about fresh starts!  When others blow it we forgive them don't we?  When our kids misbehave, we tell them that we love them and continue on with the day.  When our husbands blow it we are responsible for working it out, forgiving them, and continuing to move forward.  Who does that for us?  Jesus!