When my children were quite small I found myself participating in many activities. There were Mommy groups, playgroups, visiting with friends and so on.
Everything I did was a great activity in and of itself, but the combination did occasionally seem a little nutty. But it was what a Good Mommy should be doing, so I did it! Sound familiar? Many women seem to be able to keep up this pace just fine and even expect it of their friends and fellow Christian moms. I am not one of those women.
I was surprised to discover several years ago that I was done doing the “good mommy” routine. Don’t get me wrong, I still think that having a group of supportive women around you is a great and sometimes necessary thing in everyday mommyhood, but . . . but. . . but. . . it is not for everyone to be part of every activity.
If you are a new mommy (or at any stage in parenting your children for that matter) who is struggling, dealing with depression, feeling alone, inadequate or simply in need of some great Christian friends who are in the same boat, a group like MOPS can be a fabulous outlet for you! I highly recommend it. Bible Studies are a great way to get into the Bible and grow in your walk with Christ, while getting to know other women in your church or community.
I was in leadership in MOPS groups for years and led various other women’s activities along the way, so I was a little surprised to find that one particular conversation was very eye opening to me. I was attending a meeting and happily working on a craft with a variety of other women toward the beginning of the school year. One of the other girls in our group went to church with my neighbor who had become a friend of mine. This young gal was commenting that my neighbor needed to join a group like ours and get out more. Funny thing is I knew for a fact that my neighbor had one child in preschool, one in 1st grade and a 3 year old as well as attending a weekly Bible study and prayer meeting. The part that stands out to me to this day the most though is my response to this young mom . . . “You know what though, at some point enough is enough.”
There is such a thing as “Too much of a Good thing” and I think that mommies are the most likely group to fall into that mire. Look to God for the truly Good things for you in your life as a Christian, wife, mom, woman. Only He truly knows what the best things for you and your family are.
I’m not going to go into the fact that I suddenly realized that I am categorized as an “older mom” and that may be why this conversation stands out to me. After a decade of trying to be a “Good Mommy”, I could no longer keep up once I had twins. I found though that God may have other things for me that he can do far greater works through and I just needed to stop long enough to listen.
A few scriptures for the journey:
“Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore.” ~ Psalm 86:11-12
“Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children.” ~ Lamentations 2:19
“The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.” ~Proverbs 20:7
“Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:17-18