Is This 4 Letter Word Sabotaging How You See Yourself as a Mother?

Moms, how often do you use this 4 Letter Word? Let’s stop using this 4 letter word so you can start living intentionally in the here and now.

I recently heard the lyrics to this old song by the Williams Brothers. It’s a song about a man who says he’s a nobody and he’s just trying to share about Jesus with others.

I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody,
about somebody, who can save anybody.”

Do you see the problem with these lyrics?

For some of us, it’s a subtle message that we’ve  heard by well-meaning Sunday school teacher and parents. It sounds Christian and there is some truth to it but the thing is we are not “nobody” once we become His child.

You see the problem with these lyrics isn’t only in the “nobody” part, though that is an issue. But the problem begins with the simple 4 letter word “just”. We use this 4-letter word throughout our day not even realizing the impact it has on us as mothers.

So many of us live in this place of “I’m just” and that’s a dangerous place to camp out my sweet mama friends.

You are NOT “just” a mom!

And no you don’t “just” stay at home.

The word “Just” devalues and minimizes what we are doing and how He is using us. I’m just painting a little something. No, you’re an artist and you’re currently inspired by His creation and you’re making art.
I’m just driving the carpool.
I’m just making dinner.
I’m just mopping the kitchen.

When we use the word, “just” you are belittling who God has made you and the roles he has placed you in. When the angels go to God and ask about you I assure you God doesn’t say, “Oh that’s just Mari.” No, my friends, he says, “That is my beautiful, precious daughter whom I have chosen before the foundations of the world. I have set her apart for my purpose to be blameless before me.”

I Already Know This

At this point, you’re probably saying, “Yes, I know. I know.” But you see my friend it’s not just about knowing, it’s about sitting at our Saviour’s feet and letting this truth seep into the very core and being of who you are. It’s about living in this truth when everything inside you is whispering otherwise. Choose to believe and walk in the truth of our Savior.

It took a crisis moment for me to discover what I knew in my head was not what I lived in my life. I was doing my devotional and I came across this statement by author Alicia Britt Chole that says,

Actions reveal beliefs because beliefs inspire action.”

After reading this sentence I knew in that instant this is what I have been missing.

I found myself lying on the floor sobbing uncontrollably. After years of seminary, studying God’s word and working with women who have been exploited, abused and rescued from trafficking somehow I had missed soaking in this simple truth–I am loved by Him because of the cross not because of my accomplishments or achievements. Not because I’m a good girl but because of His grace.

While lying on that floor with nothing more to give, God picked me up and whispered life into me.

He whispered, “I delight in you.”

As you go through your day and week remember this –your heavenly Father delights in you not because you volunteer at your son’s school, not because you’ve been a good Christian, a caring mother, a concerned wife, you got a promotion, or baked the cake from scratch but because you are His. His love and your value are not based on your achievements or accomplishments but it’s rooted in God’s eternal purpose and grace through the cross.

If you are like me and you already know this stuff and can quote tons of verses to prove it, I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to help you soak this truth in so it seeps into the core of your heart and soul not just your mind. I encourage to stop and pray now and ask Him to make this truth come alive in your life.

Our real value as mothers comes from 3 places:

• We are loved by our Heavenly Father.
• We are needed right where we are at.
• We have a purpose in the midst of the daily grind.

Dr. Meeker says,

Every day we are distracted from realizing them (our beliefs) because we are lured into believing that our value comes from other things: what we look like, whether our kids are happy with us or how big our paycheck is. But we must be reminded of where our real value lies because we need to have a conscious awareness of it if we are to be genuinely happy.”

Day 1 Challenge:

This is our first challenge of Brave Moms Strong Families you can see below how to join! This weeks challenge is to not allow yourself to devalue your role and your daily tasks. Stop using the word “just” and let His truth soak in. Simply state what is true without devaluing it!

I leave you with this, “No mother can teach a child his or her own value if she doesn’t first understand her own value as a mother.” We can’t give our kids what we do not have. I hope this is enough motivation to encourage you to start living your life out of a place of security knowing you are loved, needed and you have a purpose.

HOW TO JOIN THE BRAVE MOM = STRONG FAMILIES! 6 DAY CHALLENGE

My friend Jenny from Nighthowells Blog and I are kicking off a 6 Day Mom Challenge, to help us live bravely! Not tomorrow, not when the summer is over but right where we are.

It’s really easy. All you have to do is:

1. Subscribe and add your email address HERE to start the challenge!
2. After you sign up you will receive a confirmation email to your inbox. Confirm!
3. Now you’re on your way to receiving 6 days of encouragement, teaching, free printables and much more (see schedule below) to help you live bravely, passionately and in truth- right in your inbox!