It’s snowing today. In May. Gross, disgusting globs of snow. When it is supposed to be warm and sunny with buds on the trees and flowers peeking through the ground. Instead, it’s gross and grey and gloomy. I didn’t want to get out of bed. When I did, the kids were arguing. As usual – because it seems that’s all they do lately. My husband made me breakfast, but I couldn’t even appreciate his kindness because tomorrow is Mother’s Day. And I don’t think anyone cares.

We have reached that weird part in life where the kids should be able to do things on their own. They should be able to bake a cake or make a card. But they don’t. And I think my husband is really tired. Tired of doing everything for everyone all the time. I totally get it… because I am too.

All I wanted was a day off. A day where I don’t have to listen to anyone fighting. A day where I can eat some delicious chocolate cake and just do nothing. But as long as I’m living in this house with these kids, it’s never going to happen. (If you know my children, you’ll understand!) A day off is pretty much a pipe dream. So right now, I am feeling sorry for myself. And a bit angry that no one seems to really care. When suddenly, I’m scrolling through Facebook and something I see stops me in my tracks.

It’s nothing special, really. A post from my friend about something her daughter wrote about her mom for Mother’s Day. My first reaction was to roll my eyes and keep scrolling. It wasn’t the photo or the words that made me stop my scroll. It was my friend’s words – about how motherhood is a calling. It hit me like a ton of bricks.

It’s so easy to forget when you’re right in the middle of it and the drudgery of the every day seems so exhausting. It’s easy to forget that these children were hand-selected and carefully formed and created by God especially for me. For some reason He thought I could be the mother that they’d need.

I fall short of my calling all the time. When I’m tired. When it’s been a long day. When I’m frustrated that no one is listening. When the kids are being disrespectful. When everything is hard and I don’t feel like being gracious, or trying again.

If I’m being honest, sometimes I just don’t want to see it that way. Understanding it is a calling changes me. It changes my heart from being frustrated and annoyed at my circumstances, to being thankful for them. It fuels me with more grace to give out when I don’t feel gracious. It changes my attitude about making meals I don’t want to cook, and doing laundry I don’t want to deal with. Because as long as it is a calling, it is an assignment from God. Handed down to me to fulfill for His glory.

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. And even though it’s nice to have a day where you are honoured and appreciated for the hard work that you do, it’s not the most important thing. The most important thing is that you wake up and be present. Be prepared, be busy, be the Mom. Because if motherhood is your calling, you have to give it your all. All day, every day – until you hear the words, “well done, good and faithful servant.” ❤️