When I became a mom, somehow I expected that it would change everything but in the same way, somehow, I expected that I would always be the same.
But it’s not true.
When you become a mom, everything in the world stays the same, with the one small exception in life.
You.
You see, becoming a mom changes not WHAT you see, but HOW you see.
Before I became a mom I would look at people who had kids, and see their kids acting out, throwing tantrums, having fits, and acting like spoiled brats. And I thought to myself, “If that is what having kids means, I don’t want anything to do with that.”
And then I became a mom.
Those same kids having tantrums, I don’t see a spoiled brat; I see a child who is tired; a child who hasn’t had their lunch or who missed their nap time and simply couldn’t handle the exhaustion.
Before I became a mom, I would see rude, disrespectful and rebellious teenagers, and I would think, “Somebody needs to tell that kid a thing or two.”
But when I became a mom and I saw those same teenagers, I realized, those kids are crying out in the loudest way possible to be HEARD. The fighting parents, the absent parent, the inconsistent parent; the lenient parent, the perfectionist parent; the abusive parent; these kids are desperately needing SOMEONE – ANYONE– to HEAR THEIR PAIN.
Before I became a mom, I hated driving slow. I followed the laws of the road because I *had* to. I hated the law sometimes; especially if I was running late somewhere. If I knew I could get away with driving fast, I would.
But when I became a mom it was no longer about “the rules.” When I look in the back seat, and see my son sleeping peacefully or humming a little tune to himself, I couldn’t possibly imagine doing sometime risky or stupid on the road that would put him in harm’s way. I no longer follow the rules of the road because I’m afraid I’ll get caught; NOW I follow the rules because I love my son with all my heart.
Before I became a mom I did what I wanted, when I wanted, without a second thought.
But when I became a mom the things I thought I wanted seemed so shallow and insignificant compared to loving somebody who needs you.
Before I became a mom, staying up late and sleeping in was a “right.”
But when I became a mom, it became a joy just to wake up in the morning and realize how lucky I am to start another day with my family.
Before I became a mom, my time was my own, and I hated it when people stole my time from me.
But when I became a mom, I realized that time does not belong to me; it is a gift that gets smaller and smaller each day; and if I keep it to myself, there will be nothing left at the end of my life. Only when I give my time away will I ever truly get something in return.
Before I became a mom, answering a call in the middle of the night was an inconvenience
But when I became a mom answering a call in the middle of the night means I get to hold my son just once more.
Before I became a mom going to school was such a drag and sometimes there were teachers I didn’t like and sometimes there were classmates I didn’t like. Learning was such a bother.
But when I became a mom I realized how my education created so many opportunities to better myself and better the world around me. I also learned that there are going to be people that I don’t like everywhere and if I hadn’t learned how to get along with the people I didn’t like in school I would have never learned how to get along the worst boss I ever had at my first job; and I would have never learned how to work through tough problems to find solutions. I realized that school is only the beginning; in the real world… you should NEVER stop learning if you want to better your life.
Before I became a mom, taking care of the world around me felt like an obligation that was exhausting and a nuisance.
But when I became a mom, I could not imagine a world in which I didn’t care.
Before I became a mom, I only saw the present.
But when I became a mom, I saw the world through the lens of the future.
Before I became a mom, I looked at everything my parents did to raise kids and only saw what they did wrong.
But when I became a mom, I looked at everything my parents did and all I can see is everything they did right.
Before I became a mom, “family” was “relatives with problems.”
But when I became a mom, I realized family was the people I needed.
Before I became a mom, I thought I knew what love was.
But when I became a mom, I learned what unconditional love was. And my son will know- no matter what he does in life- that he will be loved for the Rest. Of. His. Life.
Being a mom has changed nothing and has changed everything. The sky is still the same old blue; but somehow it looks bluer. Time keeps on ticking, but somehow, it has become more precious.
The world is still the same, but my “why,” my motivation, and my reasons are a world of difference: There is somebody who needs to know my love- UNCONDITIONALLY.
Being a mom isn’t easy; there are really hard days, and sometimes I fail- miserably. Sometimes I think I’m the worst example of a mom or that I don’t know what in the world I’m doing, but I get back up, and I keep going, not out of obligation, but because love motivates me. Every thing I do, every thing I say, everything I am… is because I want to make the world a better place for someone else.
Now let me tell you about being loved by God.
When I discovered there was a God who loved me, somehow I expected that it would change everything for me but in the same way, somehow, I expected that I would always be the same.
But it’s not true.
When you experience God’s love, everything in the world stays the same, with the one small exception in life.
Me.
You see, before I knew God’s love, I saw the world differently.
Before I knew God loved me, I would look at Christians, and see them fighting, gossiping, hypocritical and sometimes even acting like spoiled brats. And I thought to myself, “If that is what being a Christian means, I don’t want anything to do with that.”
And then Love found me.
Those Christians with all the problems? I soon realized that being a Christian doesn’t mean all your problems go away; it means that you recognize that you HAVE a problem- and that you are a work in progress. I realized that I was putting too much emphasis in how other Christians treated *ME*, and regardless of how I am treated, I want to treat OTHER people the way Jesus has treated me.
Before I knew God loved me, I would see rude, disrespectful and rebellious teenagers, and I would think, “Somebody needs to tell that kid a thing or two.”
But when Love found me, and I saw those same teenagers, I realized those kids are crying out in the loudest way possible to be HEARD. Those kids desperately needed *ME* to HEAR THEIR PAIN.
Before I knew God loved me, I hated rules. I followed the laws of the Bible because I *had* to when I grew up. But I hated the Bible sometimes. If I knew I could get away with something, I would.
But when Love found me, it was no longer about “the rules.” When I think about the sacrifice that Jesus did on the cross- just so that I could have a friendship with him, I couldn’t possibly imagine doing sometime risky or stupid that would hurt Him or put my relationship with Him in harm’s way. I no longer follow the Bible because I’m afraid I’ll get caught; NOW I follow the Bible because I love my God with every ounce of my being.
Before I knew God loved me, I did what I wanted, when I wanted, without a second thought.
But when Love found me, the things I thought I wanted seemed so shallow and insignificant compared to loving somebody who loved me at my VERY WORST.
Before I knew God loved me, having a bad attitude was a “right.”
But when love found me, it became a joy just to wake up in the morning and realize how lucky I am to start another day.
Before I knew God loved me, my time was my own, and I hated it when people stole my time from me.
But when love found me, I realized that time does not belong to me; it is a gift that gets smaller and smaller each day; and if I keep it to myself, there will be nothing left at the end of my life. Only when I give my time away will I ever truly get something in return.
Before I knew God loved me, answering a call in the middle of the night was an inconvenience
But when Love found me, answering a call in the middle of the night meant I could quite possibly save somebody’s life.
Before I knew God loved me, going to church was such a drag; sometimes there were preachers I didn’t like and sometimes there were people at church I didn’t like. And learning the Bible was such a bother.
But when Love found me, I realized it wasn’t about “going to church,” it was about being a “PART” of the church. I realized that being a part of the church created so many opportunities to better myself and better the world around me with a team of people who wanted to do the same. I also learned that there are going to be people that I don’t like everywhere and if I don’t learn how to get along with the people I didn’t like in the church, why would anyone want to know about God’s love through my life example?
Church is only the beginning of a Christian; you should NEVER stop learning the Bible if you want to better your life.
Before I knew God loved me, taking care of the world around me felt like an obligation that was exhausting and a nuisance.
But when Love found me, I could not imagine a world in which I didn’t care.
Before I knew God loved, I only saw the present.
But when Love found me, I saw the world through the lens of the future.
Before I knew God loved me, I looked at everything others did and only saw what they did wrong.
But when Love found me, I look at everything others do and all I can see is everything they do right.
Before I knew God loved me, “Christians” were “people with problems.”
But when Love found me, I realized Christians were people I needed in my life.
Before I knew God loved me, I thought I knew what love was.
But when Love found me, I learned what unconditional love was. And I know- that no matter what I do in life- I will be loved for the Rest. Of. My. Life.
Knowing God’s love has changed nothing and has changed everything. The sky is still the same old blue; but somehow it looks bluer. Time keeps on ticking, but somehow, it has become more precious.
The world is still the same, but my “why,” my motivation, and my reasons are a world of difference: I have been given an unconditional love.
Choosing to follow Jesus isn’t easy; there are really hard days, and sometimes I fail- miserably. Sometimes I think I’m the worst example of a Christian or that I don’t know what in the world I’m doing, but I get back up, and I keep going, not out of obligation, but because knowing God’s love motivates me.
Every thing I do, every thing I say, everything I am… is because somebody else made the world a better place for me.
And now I want to make the world a better place for someone else.
When you follow God out of love and gratefulness, rather than fear of punishment… it completely changes your “WHY”… which changes… well… everything.
“Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us.” 1 John 4:19 (TPT)
Author Anne Day 