For Moms Who Wish They Were God
Some days, as a mom, I wish I were God…
- To know what God knows.
- To have the certainty God has.
- To be in total control of the cosmos.
- To have the power to bring justice.
Even as I write those words, I know how short I fall of the God who knows the plans he has for us, executes them with all loving wisdom, reigns with grace over the very universe he created, and uses his power to love unlovely people. I don’t really want to be God.
What I really want is to be Queen of My Own Mommy Universe.
- I want to know which program will get my babies to sleep through the night in 5 weeks or less. I want to know how to get them to “Just say no to drugs.”
- I want to be certain that sending them to Greenwood Prep Pre-K instead of Learning Barn is going to produce the stellar student I’ve always assumed I’d have.
- I want to control their lives’ outcome. When they have sniffles, I want them to be well enough to attend school. When they have threatening health issues, I want them to be cured – yesterday, but I’d really rather they not have those at all.
- Finally, I want the power to bring justice (or is that vengeance?) to anyone who does them harm…Unjust teachers…watch out for the well-written nasty note. Best friends turned bullies – Beware my smiting eyes when I see you at the junior high football game.
The truth is I’m a terrible Queen of My Own Mommy Universe because…
sin clouds my vision for my children.
fear makes me want to keep them close, to protect them (and me) from all suffering.
selfishness shuts down my capacity to write larger stories for them, stories that would require them to depend on God.
Oh, who will rescue me from this body of sin and death?
Thanks be to God, THE GOD! He has rescued me and all mothers like myself! He has reminded us that He has written a much wilder story for us and for our children….
But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43:1-3
A Prayer for Moms Who Want to Be God
Lord, thank you for being God, THE GOD, the loving, saving, faithful, all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present God. Thank you for showing us our folly when we think we want to take your place and run the universe in a way that seems more to our liking. Thank you for the peace that comes from what we do know – that you are making all things well for your children in your time.
In the name of our Precious Savior, Jesus,
So Very Amen