Sleeping 90 minutes at a time. Worrying about the persistent cough. Cleaning breast pump parts. The season when our two girls were little was a season I’d sometimes rather forget than cherish. I could not get away from the crying, diaper changing, and sleep deprivation fast enough.
You might be in this season now. Or maybe you’ve made it through the baby/toddler season, but your new season doesn’t seem to be any easier. You wonder, “Surely, the next season will be better than this one! Let’s get to that one now!” Can we be honest for a second? Because I think sometimes…
Feeling bad for being ungrateful parents?
There are seasons of parenting that we just aren’t grateful for.
The newborn season ushers in worries about health, growth charts, developmental milestones, and sleeping patterns. The toddler stage has us wondering if we’ll ever sit down and enjoy a hot cup of coffee again. Those elementary years find us relinquishing our children to outside influences that we don’t have control over as our kids learn how to navigate homework and become more independent. And middle school? Who hasn’t wanted to rush through middle school??!?! Finally, the high school years of phones, hormones, and friends are tough as we hope we’ve done a good job and that our children are making wise choices.
Each season of parenting has its pros and cons, and each stage has those parts that we don’t want to cherish, but would rather skip past.
But what does God have to say about these ungrateful seasons?
1. In every season, God is doing good work in us and through us.
Every season is both wonderful and hard, and every season has it’s God-ordained purpose. Here are three reasons to be thankful for the season you’re in.
2. God has called you for such a time as this.
Yes, this. This sleep deprivation. This never-ending laundry pile of onesies or uniforms. This time to chauffeur an entire soccer team.
God assigned you these people with these flaws and struggles for such a time as this. He’s placed you where He’s placed you so that you can be conformed more and more into the image of His Son.
God isn’t ignorant of your situation and He will never leave you on your own. He isn’t shocked that you’re tired or frustrated or wondering what to do next. He’s placed you in this season so that you’ll become the mama He’s designed you to be.
God gave you your position as a mom for such a time as this.
3. God uses every season of motherhood to refine you.
Yes, you. You are His favorite. You are the one He’s just crazy about. You are the one He picked to raise these children. You are who He thinks about and sings over.
God uses the method of motherhood to bring you into alignment with Him. God has specifically placed in you this season at this time so that He can peel away the sin and selfishness so that you become whole and wholly His.
