A resilient mom is often seen as one who preserves and handles sleep deprivation and long days like a champ. We may even envision her pushing through days with all her strength, never quitting. We celebrate her efforts thinking that this forward momentum will earn her the title of “Best Mom.”
In reality, this “keep going“ mentality leads to burnout and even resentment in motherhood.
We get it, motherhood will have hard days, mundane days, and even some tragic days. We can expect seasons where we will need to stay steadfast. However, true resilience isn’t just gritting your teeth and getting through. Resilience is recharging so you can protect your mental, physical, and spiritual health, allowing you to be the best mother you can in each season. Jesus modeled resiliency so well for his daughters. He stopped, rested, recharged, and then pushed through what was in front of him.
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.– Luke 5:16 NIV
Jesus knows you have a huge responsibility to raise up the next generation. Did you know you were never meant to do motherhood without him? He wants you to choose rest. He wants to connect with you. He wants you to recharge, have fun, and depend on him to walk out this beautiful and hard journey with him.
As a mom it may seem impossible to take these moments of respite, but it’s important. Here are some ways to recharge right now:
- Put the phone down to get a mental rest
- Listen to your favorite playlist while watching your kids
- Sleep during nap time
- Journal
- Schedule a Girls Night Out
- Schedule Fun with your kids and leave chores for another day
- Take a walk outside
- Ask for help
- Pray
Remember this excellent advice from the one who modeled rest for us: “Then because so many people were coming and going, they didn’t even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourself to a quiet place and get some rest.’” Mark 6:31 NIV
Questions:
- When was the last time you chose rest?
- What is one thing you will do this week to recharge?
Laurie Jarvis, Executive Leadership Coach
