C is for Celebrating

We are continuing our theme of the ABC's of Motherhood. Today, I am tacking the letter C. You can read B is for Bravery here and A is for Acceptance here.

When we think of the word celebrate, often times we think of birthday parties, a graduation dinner or a wedding reception. Moments that matter and deserve attention. And, while those are all things deserving of a celebration, today I want to talk about celebrating the little things that we so often overlook.

Dictionary.com defines celebrate as this:

• To observe or commemorate with festivities or ceremonies

• To make known publicly, to proclaim

• To solemnize

There are a million little things that happen throughout a year that are worthy of celebrating.

A new job, a raise, passing a mid-term- these are all cause for festivities!

Your child going #2 on the potty, making it all day without yelling at your kids, making dinner without burning it- these are brag worthy moments; opportunities to publicly proclaim how good you are doing!

Making it through the first year of motherhood, graduating with your AA degree, paying off your car loan- these are moments to solemnize (pray over or commemorate with a ceremony such as burning the loan papers ;))

Not waiting for a major life event to celebrate invites joy into the every day. It makes the mundane fun and the ordinary special. When our kids grow up, we want them to remember us as the mom that was joyful. The mom that made a big deal over the little things. The mom that smiled even when times were tough. The mom who celebrated as often as she could!

Even in the midst of difficult times, there is always something to celebrate!

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; celebrate His lovely name... Psalm 135:3

How can you be a mom who celebrates? I would love to hear your ideas in the comments!

B is for Bravery

Sometimes, as a young mom, the responsibilities of motherhood can be overwhelming. A tiny, innocent life depends on you for security, love, safety, nurturing, sustenance and more. It's okay to recognize the responsibility and even to feel the weight of it. Understanding that will keep you focused on your job as a mama to your precious little one and hopefully help you make good parenting decisions.

But, if you focus too much on the responsibility and not enough on the joy and privilege of being a mom, you can quickly become frazzled and discouraged. How do you overcome those feelings? Those days when life is just not what you thought it would be and you wish you could run away to a place where no one called you Mom?

photo credit: alisonalexander.com

The short answer: Be brave.

When you get let go from your job because you missed too many days due to your son's asthma....be brave.

When your boyfriend decides that dating a girl with a kid is too much...be brave.

When you have to decide whether to buy groceries or pay the electric bill...be brave.

Dictionary.com defines brave as:
To meet or face courageously
To defy, challenge, dare

You have within you the capacity to meet your circumstances courageously, to face situations that threaten to overwhelm you courageously. You can defy the odds that say that young moms raise children who struggle academically, lag behind socially and are more likely to commit crimes. You can challenge the stigma that young moms don't know what they're doing. You can dare your critics to say one more negative thing about your life and your children. You can choose to be brave.

The Bible tells us that God will come through for us in our times of need. And while we are waiting for Him, Scripture says this:

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Psalm 27:14

Yes, life may be tougher for a while because you had your baby at a young age. But, even in the darkest of times, you have a gift that can always bring you joy and comfort. A precious little one that God has entrusted you with. So, be brave and wait for the Lord. Your best gift has already arrived and the rest will work itself out!

What do you need to be brave about? Feel free to share in the comments or email me at kmelissasmallwood@gmail.com

Till next time,
Melissa