It was only a few days ago, I walked into our bathroom and saw what I’ve been seeing far too often lately- potty on the floor. My son and I well, we’ve been having this recurring conversation about the absolute first thing you need to do when you go into the bathroom. Say it with me now, step number one is TURN ON THE LIGHT. For some reason, we’ve regressed in this “turning on the light” area and on this particular day, I was once again greeted with potty on the floor.
As I gathered some paper towels, some cleaner and kneeled onto the floor to clean it all up, I felt anger welling up inside of me. I wanted to yell about how sick and tired I am of cleaning up potty, but I didn’t. Instead I cleaned in silence and right there in the bathroom, I felt God telling me that right now, cleaning up that potty mess, without freaking out was what bravery looks like. In that moment, that’s what bravery looked like for me. Most days I try to be brave, but bravery for me might look different than what the world would expect bravery to be.
See friends, the world tells us that bravery is doing that big thing that everyone can see, but I don’t think that’s always it. In Motherhood, I think bravery is doing what’s right even when no one is looking. It’s cleaning up that mess for the 115th time, with grace, instead of yelling. It’s smiling when a smile doesn’t come naturally and it’s choosing to do what’s right, even though you might be the only one who ever knows.
In Motherhood, bravery is singing that song one more time, even when you flat out don’t want to. It’s saying “Yes”, even when you want to say “No”. It’s getting out those paints, even though you’re aware of the mess that’s about to explode in your dining room.
You might think you’re not brave, but you are. Bravery sometimes looks like putting your phone away for a few hours and choosing to look into those little eyes. Bravery is allowing yourself to say “No” to bigger things that everyone else seems to be doing, in order to say “Yes” to those little things that you know your children need.
Bravery in Motherhood is looking yourself in the mirror and telling yourself that what you’re doing is actually making a difference. Bravery is choosing to believe that all of this counts. Bravery is giving yourself the freedom to shine in this season and giving them the freedom to be kids.
Bravery is doing Motherhood with great courage, even in the face of difficulty or pain.
What does bravery look like for you right now?
Angela Strand can be found blogging on allmomdoes every Monday. To read more of her blogs, click here!
