He Gives More Grace: Encouragement for Moms in Any SeasonShembull

Day 7: Enjoying the Little Things

“Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this, is his lot.” Ecclesiastes 5:18

Even when (especially when) motherhood feels hard and life feels heavy, moments of laughter are truly gifts from God. They help us retain a sense of childlike wonder. They help us build relationships with our children in a way that shows we simply enjoy them and want them to enjoy us. And if we stop to look, there are little moments like this around every corner. Whether it’s stopping to laugh at your child’s joke, which made so little sense that it was actually hilarious, or having a spontaneous dance party even when you have two left feet, it will always be worth it.

No matter what season of life you are in with your kids, it’s a gift to laugh with your children and find ways to bring lighthearted moments in. Not only are your own spirits lifted, but your children learn that they can have joy and laughter because this life is a good gift from God, even when it’s hard—that we are meant to enjoy life as God created us to!

I don’t say this to add another burden to your already long list of things to do as a mom: “I must make time to laugh with my kids. I must make time to make memories. I have 15 minutes after cooking dinner and before football pick-up. I’ll schedule it in for then.” No—this is permission to bask in God’s grace over you and to embrace the beauty and joy of motherhood in all the little moments around you. What might change if you took the time to set aside your burdens and to-do lists for a few moments today, knowing the Lord will equip you for all of it when the time comes, and give yourself permission to take some time with your kids to laugh, be lighthearted, and simply enjoy them? Maybe you could...

~ have a no-silverware dinner night when you can just embrace the mess of everyone using their hands instead. (Yes, this may be very hard for those of you who have a high need for cleanliness!)

~ try to make up your own jokes with your kids and see who can come up with the best one.

~ have a family game night.

~ put a pause on meal prep and dance in the kitchen when your child grabs your hand as music plays in the background.

~ go down the slide at the park with your children, even though you get stuck halfway or it makes your hair stand on end.

The list could go on, and what that list might look like will be different for each of us depending on our circumstances, children, and personalities. But the point is this: it’s all too easy to forget to enjoy our children and embrace moments of fun and laughter because they don’t feel as important as the serious conversations, the needed discipline, or the many things we have to get done. But God wants us to truly enjoy the journey of motherhood and to build relationships with our children because he is a Father full of joy, and he desires a relationship with us in which we can know him and enjoy him—not just fear him.

So sister, take a deep breath, set aside your many swirling thoughts, and take a moment to count the many blessings you have as a mom. It doesn’t really matter if the socks don’t get sorted, or your work gets done a little more hurriedly this week, or the house is a mess when you go to bed. Ask the Lord to renew in you a sense of joy and give you eyes to see moments when you can pause, put down your chores, embrace the moment at hand, and simply enjoy your children.

GRACE IN A LINE

Moments of joy are gifts from God for me to notice, pause in, and enjoy.

For more reflections on God’s grace in motherhood, Sarah and Linda have also written a book called He Gives More Grace: 30 Reflections for the Ups and Downs of Motherhood Through the Years. May it be a help to you if you grab a copy!