This Mother’s Day, Run the Race

Happy Mother’s Day!

I can’t think of better inspiration for mothers today than to think of Paul’s personal objective to “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14 NKJV).

Maybe you’re discouraged or feeling overwhelmed in the race you’re running. My wife Cathe wrote this in a blog some time ago, and it rings so true today:

I want to say to all mothers out there, run this “mother race” with joy. Run with all your heart, mind, and strength. Run for the Lord, who entrusted His children to you. Run for those children, that they may see your love and commitment to them. Run. Run. Run this race like your clothes are on fire! All heaven wants to cheer you on as you look toward the prize of hearing the Lord say, “Well done!” I want to cheer you on too!

But first, to our moms, we say thank you. We want to honor you for the things you’ve done. For the countless things that we selfishly never took notice of.

To those who may not have been our mothers, but who functioned like mothers and taught us by words and godly examples, hats off to you too! You are “mothers in the faith.” You cared, mentored, and prayed for us—to you we say thank you as well.

And to the rest of us moms in the trenches, let’s cast off the weight of comparing ourselves to each other, or to standards that are in vogue for about a minute. Cast off the weight of always having to have a perfect house and homemade bread dough rising on our spotless counters. Chill out about Instagram and reading mommy blogs and Pinterest. If these things help us, great! If they stress us out, frustrate, and whittle away precious time, let them go!

In doing so, we will free up more time and energy for important matters: God, family, and modeling love and holy living. Let’s run this race for the ultimate prize, forget what is behind, cast off the weights, and go for it—because this race is best run when we are fit and fleet.