Sand Between My Toes

 

My most favorite place to be on this Earth that God created is on a beach somewhere. It is there that I feel God’s presence most abundantly and feel most at peace. Of course, living in a land-locked state hundreds of miles from an ocean pretty much guarantees that my beach visits are very few and far between.

 

Nevertheless, I absolutely love the feeling of sand between my toes. Not only is it like a foot massage in itself, it also reminds me of the peace and serenity that only the beach can offer.

 

Every now and again after leaving the beach, however, I’ll notice a few grains of sand still stuck between my toes. It’s normally after I’ve already rinsed “all” the sand off and have dutifully returned my shoes to my feet. At this moment, the sand between my toes is no longer wonderful but has now become an irritant.

 

Motherhood is a bit like sand between my toes. I love nearly every single minute of it, though every now and again it can become a wee bit irritating.

Like when I feel like I’m not good enough as a mom…not patient enough, not gentle enough, not creative enough.

Or when my kids are fighting.

Or when my son randomly bites me in the grocery store.

Or when I’m cleaning up puke in the middle of the night.

 

But those little grains of irritation serve to remind me of the tranquility that comes with motherhood. Yes, I am fully aware that mothering is not usually peaceful and tranquil…but knowing you are fulfilling a God-given calling is. When I really stop to think about how great a responsibility and privilege it is to be a mother to these two precious boys, I am truly humbled.

 

It’s in those moments of irritation that I am reminded of my need for a Savior who gives me grace to pass on to my children, even when I don’t deserve it. When I feel a little grain of sand in the life sandals of mothering, I just need to ask God to promptly remove my reaction of irritation so that I can remember and reflect on the joy, peace, and tranquility that only mothering can offer.

 

“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” -Ephesians 2:10