Raising People, Not ProductsNäide

I am a homeschooling mom. That was not my plan, but it has been my path. In my early years of homeschooling, I was often stressed about whether my kids were meeting all the academic standards. Quite frequently, I would feel like there was not even one area of my life where I felt I was managing things successfully.

I began to feel like—and say—that I was a "lemon." After my third and fourth babies, I began experiencing health problems due to the toll of difficult pregnancies and challenging deliveries. I was overwhelmed by feelings of incompetence and discouragement. Surely God made a mistake by giving me all these children when I so clearly was failing in so many aspects of motherhood. This was the narrative I began to believe.

Thankfully, we have a heavenly Father who is a perfect parent. He gently leads us—even when we have faulty thinking and misguided ideas. In Isaiah 40:11, God says that He will gently lead those who have young. I clung to the truth of that verse. I was willing to be gently led. I was willing to accept my shortcomings and hear the voice of my good Father who was not trying to fix me but guide me to a better way of mothering.

When life is overwhelming and you feel like you cannot manage it all according to your own standards, remember that God gently leads those who have young. This divine promise offers profound comfort for the mother who feels stretched beyond her capacity, who wonders if she's somehow flawed or inadequate for the sacred work of raising children.

Trust in His gentle leading. Allow Him to guide you toward a better way of mothering - one rooted not in your performance, but in His grace.

Reflection Question: How might God be using your current struggles and limitations to teach you deeper dependence on His gentle guidance?