I’ve been feeling it lately. The noise. Maybe you’ve been feeling it too?
The noise of everyone’s opinions. (The comment section.)
The noise of breaking news, constant updates, and crisis after crisis.
The noise of perfection on Instagram. Where it seems like every mom is perfectly styled, perfectly productive, and somehow also perfectly rested?
Today? I’ve got two sick babies. One’s in her bed, the other one’s in front of 90’s Sesame Street reruns, pretending that my claw clip is a dinosaur.
I’m wearing my favorite oversized t-shirt with Lulu leggings that have been with me as long as my as my husband. No make-up and a Kiss press-on French manicure with three nails missing.
I’m also about to make my kids some bagged Bear-Creek Chicken Noodle Soup because I don’t really wanna chop up carrots today.
I will say, my skin care is on point.
Joking aside, I’ve found myself discouraged as someone who shares her life online. I’m not shopping every day or linking every new “it” item. I’m not a professional content creator. I’m a mom, showing up in the real, raw, everyday moments of raising my babies.
I’m a writer. Making mistakes, learning, refining, crying, and trying.
I’m a wife still learning about the man I married ten years ago – learning how to nurture and support him in deeper, quieter ways.
I’m a Christian woman learning what it really means to steward God’s word – not just outside of the home, but inside it. I’m still learning about how to do that right.
I’m a friend who may not always text back right away, but I’ll drop everything if you need me. I’m that friend.
And right now? I’m a human who’s a little overstimulated and a little bit overwhelmed.
I was Amazoning MRE’s and Emergency Radios today for goodness sake.
We are the most connected generation of wives and mothers in history. And yet, I wonder – are we more connected to the outside world than we are to our own homes? Our own hearts?
Don’t get me wrong; I believe knowledge matters. Awareness is important. Wisdom is vital. But constant noise? Constant consumption? Knowing everything about everyone at all times?
That’s not always holy. That’s not always helpful.
So today, if you’ve felt the pressure to keep up…
If your mind has felt foggy or your heart heavy…
If you’ve questioned whether you’re doing enough, being enough, sharing enough, achieving enough…
Let me encourage you with this:
Doing the best you can with the skills that you have is worthy.
Growing and learning – even at 32 – is worthy.
Making mistakes and trying again is worthy.
Turning off the news and tuning into your kids is worthy.
Praying instead of posting is worthy.
This work you’re doing – as a mother, as a wife, as a woman of faith – it is good. It is holy.
Not because the world sees it ALL THE TIME.
But because we know God does.
So if the world feels loud to you today, you have full permission to just shut it down.
You don’t have to know everything. You don’t have to be everything. You don’t have to carry everything.
Sometimes the holiest thing you can do is to be quiet. To be still. To call on the voice of Jesus.
To turn down the volume of the world and turn your heart back toward home. Toward your home.
You are not behind. You are not too late. You are not failing.
You are growing.
I think I needed this reminder just as much as anyone else today. Sometimes, writing it all out helps me see it clearly. At the end of the day, if I can be a voice of encouragement to even one mama – that’s more than enough.
