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