To Moms With Littles - This Too Shall Pass

Written by Erin Richer

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I started drinking coffee once my second child was old enough to get his own stool and climb on the kitchen counters.

I think I actually have PTSD from those years. There is something about the constant lack of sleep, the inability to string a complete thought together due to incessant interruptions for eight years straight, and the unpredictability of their actual survival under the umbrella of my scattered, exhausted mess of supervision that’s just, well… traumatizing. 

Some women, when they offer encouragement to moms of young ones say, “Enjoy every minute of their childhood, it goes by fast!” Other women encourage young moms with, “This too shall pass.” I’m the other women.

We read this verse in our Bible Reading Plan last week:

He tends His flock like a shepherd:

    He gathers the lambs in His arms

and carries them close to His heart;

    He gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:11)

The verse surprisingly triggered me. It brought me right back to the emotions I felt for the first nine years of motherhood. Six years ago my youngest turned four and that’s about when I think I finally found my stride. I literally clung to this verse. Much like the Velveteen Rabbit, I wrung it so desperately that I almost wore it through. If it wasn’t the forever living Word of the living God, I would have worn this verse out completely all by myself. But there’s no verse that was more comforting to me than this one.

So this one is for you—the young moms who are managing limited play dates in the midst of quarantine and have become the primary care giver and imagination-mate to your children. To you who are feeling guilty for not having one more moment of make believe in your tired souls. For those of you who are sure that your sanity got flushed down the pooper with the last failed attempt at potty training this week. And dare I say, this is for you, the mother of little ones who hasn’t a moment for a quiet time or devotion and if you did, you’d rather shut your eyelids for those brief moments or talk to your mom or best friend on the phone than open your Bible.

God.

Sees.

You.

And He’s gently leading you. And He knows how exhausting this time is and He is not one more demand you have to meet. He is with you in the mess and He’s carrying your little ones when you don’t have anything left to give them. Dear moms of young ones, it really is as exhausting as it feels. It’s not just you. And your Shepherd knows. As you close your eyes to take your naps, rest in His love, His grace, His presence. This too shall pass.

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