Bravery
- Cathrine Schmelzer
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
“There have been many instances in my mamahood journey that I have felt like I was standing alone.”
“And they laughed at him.” Matthew 9:24
We walked into our sanctuary at our church and I breathed a sigh of relief. A tension release. My husband is at work on this particular morning, so my preteen/teens follow me to our seats like ducklings. Like we do every week, we’ve spent this week in battle. The ways of this world aren’t the ways we want to follow, so we are constantly playing defense. So when I walk into our place of worship, our church home, I know I can let my guard down. Others with godly influence on my kids come over to acknowledge them, say “Hi” to them, and my heart swells. I get a bit teary-eyed at the pleasantries exchanged, knowing the influence these individuals have on my babes.
There have been many instances in my mamahood journey that I have felt like I was standing alone. People questioning my choices, decisions, allowances, even what I do or don’t buy for them (eesh, the Stanley cup). Many times when I’ve been laughed at or ridiculed. Our pastor spoke on this verse with a different topic, but nonetheless this verse started taking over my brain space. I craved an answer to what Jesus did when He was laughed at.
Jesus went into a synagogue leader’s house where it was believed that a young girl was dead. He told the crowd, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” And they laughed at Him. How many times have you found yourself in a situation where you’re living out your faith, and you’ve been ridiculed? Maybe you’ve been scoffed at for your parenting choices. Maybe, even, people claim that you believe you’re better than them because you opt to not participate in something that goes against what God wants for you, or simply isn’t pleasing to Him. Ding, ding. That last one hits for me.
Jesus sent the crowd outside and performed the miracle by taking the girl by the hand followed by her getting up. Instead of focusing on being laughed at, He eliminated the distraction. He focused on what He was called to do. Keep doing you, mama. I know it’s hard, He knows it’s hard. For the sake of the Kingdom, keep doing you. Keep walking into that sanctuary with the kids in tow. Keep surrounding them with those people with godly influence and a kingdom perspective that pour into your kids. Keep taking them to Youth group. Keep encouraging Bible study, worship time, prayer time.
Action Step:
Eliminate the distraction. Put boundaries in place that help you to love others while also staying the course. Maybe it looks like ear buds with a sermon while in the bleachers. You get the idea.
Prayer: Father, I’m at a point in my mama-ing that sometimes feels lonely. It can be isolating. Thank you for giving me a community of like-minded people to help. Can you bless the moments, the small victories, when we turn our focus on You instead of the judgment of others? Be present, be loud, when situations arise that are not honoring to You. Validate us during those times.
Written by Abbey, just the average Mama trying to love Jesus