Why Beautiful and Strong Women Emerge from Motherhood

Being the mother of young children is the hardest chapter of my life. I've talked to mothers who have survived this phase and they tell me that motherhood is not easy. They tell me that those years when your children still wear diapers and and live off froot loops are some of the most difficult times to get through, but also the sweetest. They remembered those years of having no breathing room, little sleep, and little voices constantly begging for hugs and fun. 

​Its rough. But each woman told me they learned more in those difficult years than ever before and the women who emerged were stronger with more inner beauty. Check out the list below and take comfort in the intense training ground that comes with parenting these little ones. This is why beautiful and strong women emerge from motherhood. 

1. Singing the words to "If Your Happy and You Know It" for the 100th time that day, because you hurt, too, with the crankiness of teething. Seeing your children hurt makes you empathize on a new level.

2. Choosing to discipline your child though it pains you more than them because you must give your child a better future. 
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3. Finding inner peace in the middle of the 10th epic tantrum of the day. If you can do that, you can find peace almost anywhere.

4. Connecting with strangers in stores because we understand when their kids are just as grumpy as ours are. Now we know what it means to put ourselves in other peoples' shoes.

5. Learning how to give up pride and accept the love and help of others. 

6. Learning the hard way that in order to take care of our families we must also treat ourselves with respect. 

7. Giving our own selves mercy as we realize we could do everything poorly or do a few things well. 

8. Letting go of plans, ideas, and dreams not because we gave up, but because we realized something sweeter. 

9. Being pushed beyond known physical limits as we carried a child, gave birth, then went without good sleep for months--now we know where true strength comes from.

10. The countless days, weeks, and months that went by when you were unable to meet with friends or have long phone conversations undisturbed by crying or dirty diapers, you found a perfect friend in your Savior. 

11. Leaving the house with no makeup and a 30-second hairdo because other things were more important made you find you self-worth in something deeper.

12. Learning how to budget, prioritize, and use all resources wisely because there was really no other option.

13. Making a marriage or relationship work and continue to grow even when the demands of home and family seemed to eclipse your life.

And lastly,
14.  When we finally make it out of this season, we are going to know how to care deeply about and for families with small children.
 
Look at that woman in the mirror and give her a smile. She is much different now. She is stronger, her heart is bigger, and she is beautiful.
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My love to you! Thank you for blessing the world as you raise up beautiful children. 

Only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a Christian mother in the molding of character in her children.
~ Billy Graham