“Hold you, Mama.”
Words that would normally melt a mother’s heart fell on deaf ears one afternoon as my 3.5 year old, Oliver, tugged on the edge of my shirt. In true toddler form, he had been clingy all day and insistent on doing his favorite thing in the world: doing something with Mama.
In this particular moment, however, Mama was busy. Busy trying to wash dishes. Busy trying to tidy the house. In my mind, busy, busy, busy. With arms full of the seemingly endless supply of toys that had been put up at least twice already that day, I tried to ignore the request and quickly finish the task I had determinately set out to do.
Not taking “no” for an answer, Oliver stepped even closer, and as I turned to answer him, promptly received an elbow to the top of his head.
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry,” I tried to reassure him. “It was an accident. But when you get right under Mommy when I’m trying to pick up, you might get hit! Can you find something to do by yourself? Mommy needs you to not be so close right now so I can finish what I’m doing.”
It took a few moments for the tears hit. My arms still full of toys, I immediately laid them down and brought him over to me, setting him in my lap. “Why are you crying, Ollie? Is it because I hit you in the head? Or because I couldn’t hold you?”
After a few sniffles, he answered, “Because you couldn’t hold me.” And it about broke my heart. All of the things I thought were urgent melted away as we sat and snuggled for the next 15 minutes. And then he was fine. And all of the things I thought had to be done right away? Turns out it was okay that they waited for a few minutes.
The world didn’t end. The house didn’t fall apart. I didn’t receive “Worst Mom of the Year” award. But I did learn this simple lesson: It can wait.
The dishes. The cleaning. The laundry. The cooking. The errands. The playdates. The plans. It. Can. Wait.
And as a mom, I get it. Being in control of everything makes us feel that we have it all together. That if the house is spotless, beds are made, clothes are folded, and dinner is planned for the next month, we’re winning at this parenting thing. But in our pursuit for perfection, we often put our reason for doing all of these things on the back burner and ignore the God-given mandate to sacrifice our wants for those He has placed in our care.
A few days later, I came across a post on Instagram from @simpleslowandsteady that perfectly summed up what I had already witnessed first-hand:
Maybe today taking up your cross looked like playing a game with your kids when you wanted some alone time.
Maybe today taking up your cross looked like picking up your child when you were in the middle of something.
Maybe today taking up your cross looked like reading another book when you wanted to get to your to-do list.
Maybe today taking up your cross looked like preparing a meal when you just wanted to sit down.
Maybe today taking up your cross looked like simply not rushing.
While speaking to His disciples, Jesus gave them these instructions: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23, NIV)
We often think taking up our cross strictly involves laying down sin and selfish desires to do the work of Christ. And it does. But as mothers, how much more can we put Jesus’ words into practice and follow His example than by choosing daily to lay down the to-do list and pick up the cross of putting our families needs first, even when it’s hard and we really, really don’t feel like it?
And in those moments when it feels impossible to keep doing this without losing our sanity, remember this:
“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose — I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.] (Philippians 4:13, AMP)
As Easter comes to a close and Mother’s Day approaches, let us be encouraged that if Jesus has called us to carry the cross of motherhood, He has also equipped us to bear that weight on a daily basis. And in moments when tidying gets traded for mid-afternoon snuggles, we can have peace knowing that we are fulfilling the ministry He has called us to.
Because, Mama, it can wait.
