“This, too, shall pass,” my grandmother used to say as she comforted my broken heart or hurt feelings. What wise words. And they are true. This, too, shall pass. Pain won’t last forever. Hope can rise up in the midst of our suffering.
Then I pondered the fullness of her statement. This, too? Every coin has a flip side, doesn’t it? One side reveals our joy and relief when a painful season comes to an end. The other reveals our sadness that the seasons pass so quickly.
The hard times, that we are more than eager to be done with, will pass. Eventually, they will. But so will the beautiful, breathtaking moments we wish would last forever. What an irony.
“The thing about it is” (also something my grandmother used to say), the same 24 hours that make up each day are not just fabulous or solely frustrating. They are the woven together quilt work of both.
Each day we live, we are perpetually learning how to hold joy in one hand and pain in the other. And each day, with all of it’s mess and marvel, will pass.
We so often want to CLING to the splendid moments while rushing through the strenuous ones. And that’s fair. But I wonder what we may miss in the process. I wonder what God may be doing through both the joyful and painful moments of our days.
I wonder what it would look like to (re)frame our days, our motherhood, through the lens of God’s love for us. To hold up the good stuff, the hard stuff, and all the in-between stuff to the lens of God’s love and see what He sees.
I wonder what it would look like for us to discover that nothing is wasted when we take it to God. And through the lens of His love, everything is made whole again.
REFRAMING
The perpetual practice
of using the TRUTH of Scripture
to keep us properly positioned
within the lens of God’s love
so we see
what He sees
when He looks at us:
a divinely crafted, fully loved masterpiece.
Scripture tells us in Philippians 4:13 that “we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” And believe me, friend, I pray this prayer about a bazillion times a day. But it sounds a little more like “Lord Jesus, help me. Give me strength to take care of these kids cuz I’m losin’ my mind over here!” And I think Jesus is ok with my translation.
HOW TO REFRAME YOUR MOTHERHOOD TODAY
PRACTICE LOOKING TO GOD FOR WISDOM.
James 1:5, 3:17 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.. the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
BE A BEGINNER.
Give yourself permission to begin again and again. With each new season of motherhood, new challanges and joy will arise. God promises to be with you every step of the way.
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
LEAN INTO COMMUNITY.
You were never meant to do this alone.
Colossians 2:2-3 “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
FAIL FORWARD.
Allow space for apologies, forgiveness and the ever present help of the God who created you and loves you.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
A PRAYER TO REFRAME YOUR MOTHERHOOD
Lord Jesus, help me put my hope in You, in the things that will not pass. Teach me the balance of holding joy in one hand and pain in the other. Guide me in your wisdom. Strengthen me for each new day and each new season of life and motherhood. Help me lean into community and embrace the joy of sisterhood. Give me the humility and grace to fail forward.
As I set my eyes on you, Jesus, please help me reframe my fears, failures, friendships and families through the lens of Your unending love for me.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
