To Mommies Who Are Gifted In Areas That I Am Not: Will You Forgive Me?

You pin your crafts on Pinterest…beautiful and precious works of art that originated from the incredibly creative recesses of your wonderful, crafty brain.

You share your deep thoughts on Twitter…convicting and encouraging words that overflow from a heart following hard after Jesus and a mind rooted in God’s Word.

You post your parenting wisdom on Facebook…tried and true advice straight from the mouth of a passionate momma who is bent on loving, disciplining, and raising her kids well.

And I am terrified of you.

Why am I afraid?

Because I have “me” on my mind.  I perceive your intended helpfulness and thoughtfulness as a personal attack against my own craftiness (or lack thereof), parenting, and walk with God.

I have assigned you ill motives (show-off-iness) for posting the things that you do.  I have persuaded myself that even if I had the ability to make one of your lovely cardboard-egg-container flower crafts, I wouldn’t.  I wouldn’t touch your intimidating craft with a ten-foot pole.

And I definitely don’t want to read about it.

Ladies, I believe that this is what is known as “The Mommy Wars”.

At the very root of The Mommy Wars is a momma like me who, in a desperate moment of misplaced identity and pity-induced jealousy, has declared your gifts, your wisdom, your heart as offensive and not to be tolerated.  (Wow, I am like a tiny little example of the state of our government…yuck!)

I have demanded silence from you and a level playing field from God.  The sin in me says that differing gifts and abilities are unfair rather than beautiful.

This is my problem, not your problem.

I am the one who owns the heart full of judginess, selfishness, and fear.  I am the one who would rather shun the gifts that God has given you rather than benefit from them.  And if I go really deep with it, I am the one who is stealing away God’s glory… 

…”In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

The love that you have for your children, your hard work and zeal and ideas and craftiness and wisdom…all of those wonderful things about you and that you so graciously share with us are a beautiful glimpse into the awesome character of our King!  (He is to be praised for your good works!)

Have any of you ever been where I am…basically fighting against your own foxhole buddy?

Here are five truths, five weapons, from God’s Word that I use in my War Against “The Mommy Wars”:

1.  I am defined by and complete in Christ!
“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the Bread of Life.  He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.'”  John 6:35

2.  Covetousness funds “The Mommy Wars”.
“You desire and do not have, so you murder.  You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.”  James 4:2

3.  Humility allows me to be care-free!
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”  I Peter 5:6-7

4.  Loving others keeps me occupied (replaces “sin time”)
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
I Peter 4:8

5.  The world is watching.
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:35

I am so thankful that the Lord does not let me remain in my bad attitude pit…He pulls me out.  🙂

So, to mommas who have been given a specific mission from our King to share His heart through your words, pins, tweets, and posts…keep writing!  As a fellow momma who is in the thick of life…I need you.

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Questions:

• What are your thoughts on “The Mommy Wars”?
• What are some ways that you see social media being used for good?

I would love to hear what you think!

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Header photo by: Boston Public Library

Lauren Souers

Hi, my name is Lauren. I am the wife of one fine man and the momma of four (huge) young children – three boys and one princess! I love all of them. I mostly clean up messes and feed people all day, and it’s really fun to write about it. Jesus is the rock of my family – we love and serve a mighty King! I hope you leave here full of hope that “tired” can be good.