Stay-at-home moms v. Working moms. It’s an ugly battle. It rages in the media, across Facebook pages and in articles written by women who accuse each other of being less-than-women because of their personal choices. It’s a battle filled with venom-laced words, accusatory tones and emotional tirades.
I’ve been the victim before. I’m sure you have, too.
Moms. Stop it.
Stop it right now.
This “Mommy War” business has to end. Mostly because no one is winning and no one ever will. Satan is winning.
For too long now we’ve pitted our sides against each other, ignoring the sisterhood of mothering that binds us, strutting around with our “to do” lists hanging out of our over-sized bags, judging each other based on who can accomplish the most tasks.
Well accomplishing tasks has nothing to do with mothering.
Nothing at all.
Working moms can be terrible mothers. Stay-at-home moms can be terrible mothers.
Working moms can be amazing mothers. Stay-at-home moms can be amazing mothers.
So why are we intent on abusing each other verbally and emotionally because of what we DO?
Why not instead lift each other up because of who we ARE?
Because we are too busy listening to The Deceiver who tells us that in order to be fulfilled we must find happiness.
So he robs us of the joy that we have in our family, our situations, our lives in the moment. Instead this Deceiver forces us to acknowledge what we don’t have instead of what we do. He tells us that the focus of our lives is perfection that can be attained—we can have it all and that getting it will bring us happiness. He tells us that our lives are not for living, instead they are for achieving. We must do more, accomplish more, make more.
But what if we could just be more? 
What if, no matter our “profession,” our time, talents, and energies went into glorifying God in every moment of every day?
What if we stopped looking at the “to do” list of another woman, judging her based on her accomplishments, and focused on ourselves and how we could be more for God?
Who would benefit? Those around us. Our husbands. Our children. Our families. Our co-workers.
Too many times we burn our candle at both ends because we’re too busy trying to please everyone but the One who matters.
What if our candle was lit at both ends to shine a brilliant light for the Only One who has ever lived Perfection?
What if, instead of judging each other because we have a career or stay at home, we held each other accountable for our glorification of God?
The Deceiver would have us believe that we can have it all. That desire is the under-running current of the Mommy Wars. It’s draining.
What we need, moms, is to be filled. Filled with joy. Filled with love, compassion, and sisterhood. Filled with success and encouragement, filled with desire and motivation.
Want to be fulfilled as a mom? Turn to the Only One who can fill you.
Then share that joy with another woman. Lace your words with encouragement and delight. Motivate another mom today with the happiness that comes from joy in the Lord.
Share with me: What is the most encouraging piece of advice another mom or woman has given you?
Hale and Hearty Words 