There we were, a family of five, hustling through the parking lot so I could squeeze in a quick stop at the shoe store and still get all my errands done.
Our little circus looked something like this:
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A dad strutting confidently with his fresh haircut.
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A preteen with her eyes glued to a phone, glancing down every few steps.
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A toddler in a stroller, determined to get her socks and shoes off.
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A frazzled mom (me).
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And a carefree little boy who suddenly called out:
“Hey MOM! Do you want to take a picture of me sitting on this rock?”
In that moment, I had a choice. I could hurry us along, or I could pause. I took a breath, smiled, and said, “Of course I do! Hop up there.”
Ten seconds later the picture was taken, his “fun tank” was full, and he was beaming with joy. We kept moving, but that pause changed the moment.
Lately I’ve been thinking about the phrase: “Fake it until you make it.” I recently heard a twist on it: “Fake it until you become it.”
I look back at myself 5 years ago, even 3 years ago, and I can see how much I’ve changed. By God’s grace, I’m becoming more patient, more present, more willing to say yes when I can. I love this version of me, where the people around me take center stage and I serve the way the Lord tells me to.
Motherhood isn’t easy, and it’s certainly not picture-perfect (no matter what the photos show). But there are little glimpses of joy and peace if we choose to slow down and see them.
So, momma friends, surround yourself with encouragers, say yes when you can, and above all, just keep breathing.
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