You Are Enough

I am a multicultural mommy. One of my kids is part Hispanic. One is part Asian. And one is part African American. They are beautiful, but they are different from me. Their skin care and hair care is much different from this white, straight-haired mama (and I’m honestly not that great at doing my own)! This week alone, I spent over six hours oiling and braiding my three-year-old’s hair, and it ended up in one big mess! She cried; I cried. It was a disaster (don’t worry – a professional is coming this week!)

I try to take care of their cultural needs. I read and research and talk to other moms. But I always seem to fall short, and I often have mothers of all backgrounds and cultures come up to tell me how I fail. It’s very easy to wonder why God chose me to be their mom! The poor dears!

But it’s in those moments of frustration and failure that I have to speak truth to myself – God gave me these children because these are the children He wanted me to raise. I may fall short when it comes to braiding their hair or finding the right soap for their sensitive skin, but I’ll figure it out eventually.

He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD! – Psalm 113:9

You see, God made me a promise. He said that He gives a barren woman a home and makes her the joyous mother of children. And He did! I am so blessed to have my mommy heart full with these children who have different skin and hair than I do! I am exactly what these children need because God has placed them in my care. He knows them better than I do!

I know that all of us moms go through times of doubting if we are enough for our children. The mom who is dealing with a mentally or physically impaired child wonders if she is doing enough to meet that child’s needs. The mom with three children just a year a part in age is wondering if she should have planned to have her children farther apart. The mother homeschooling her children is wondering if she is doing enough for their education. The working mom is wondering if she is giving her kids enough time and attention.

We moms put so much pressure on ourselves to be enough for our children – as if we are supposed to fulfill their every need and want. But that is not the role that God has assigned to us!

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus – Phil. 4:19.

It’s God Who provides their needs. He gives us moms the ability to meet those needs in certain ways, but ultimately, every good thing comes from Him. The Bible talks about the jobs of a mother – to look after the welfare of her household (Prov. 31), to use the resources she has to provide for her family (Prov. 31), to teach her children (Prov. 6:20), to train her children in the way they should go (Prov. 22:6). But I can’t find anywhere in the Bible that says I am failing in my job as a mom because I can’t braid my three-year-old’s hair!

If you believe that God is the One who created our universe, Who declares the times and seasons, Who sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins, then why do you question if He made the right decision in placing you as the mother of your children?

But before I start getting ugly messages about abusive moms or women who choose to abort their children, I want to remind you that God has given us an opportunity to be mothers, but we have to make that choice for ourselves. He has given us just what we need to mother our children well, but we have to be willing to reach out to Him for those resources.

 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
         And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,
         And He will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
         Fear the LORD and turn away from evil – Prov. 3:5-7

When we try to rely on our own wisdom, we are going to fail. We are sinners, and we are capable of evil. But when we trust in Him and follow His ways, He promises to show us the way to mother our children well!

So today, Mama, speak truth to yourself. You have been chosen by God to mother these kids. And you are enough.