Mother’s make the world go round; they really do! In so many facets of daily life, moms are the outlet that God uses to show nurture, compassion, and presence to children, both young and old. Once a mother, always a mother! Though I am probably considered a young mom, I’ve been granted the opportunity to dive in deeply and in ways I didn’t plan for.

My story of motherhood came with quite a long list of unreconciled grief and also gifts that came in unexpected packages! With a background in applied health sciences and training in various Christian inner healing programs, I was able to bring some of my motherhood challenges into a better perspective by allowing myself the space to sit back, listen to the Holy Spirit, and fill up with the grace of God. His truth in my life gave me the tools I needed to simplify the rumblings of my heart and to organize the noise in my head. I’m so grateful that as I learned how to be a mom, I mostly learned how to live in His presence. It has been true in my story that,

“You make known to me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand, there are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

The challenge for every mom is learning how to manage the dance of filling up our hearts while also giving them away. It is what we do on a constant basis and without hearing the voice of God, we can easily drift into depression, overwhelm, and disappointment. He is good, and He made us the perfect woman and mother for our family. I say woman first, because it’s sometimes difficult to remember our identity, especially in relation to self and in marriage. I say mother second because we give out to our children what comes from that place of truth rooted in love.

One of my favorite ways to encourage presence in my home is the living a life of simplicity. I love making tasks easy and enjoyable, while also making a lot of room for fun! I try to “own” little by means of earthly materials and time-wasters, because de-cluttering my schedule, my body, and my home has brought me the most freedom! Here’s a few tips I use daily or weekly on living simply and creating room for presence:

1. Wake up 20 minutes before my family to enjoy the peace of the morning and hot coffee all while being alone.
2. Go through my clothes closet. Choose only the clothes I’ve worn in the last 6 months more than twice. Let the others find a new home! (I’ve done this for my husband and kids as well! Can we say HAPPY LAUNDRY?!)
3. Simplify kids toy and extracurriculars. Choose a few that they love. Spend the rest of the time doing things together like walks, reading, trips to the supermarket, and to the park.
4. Go clean and green when I am able! If I can use products that support my physical body and mind, I find that I am much more energetic and equipped to move and be with my family. It also means the kids usually help me with cleaning!
5. Find an outside hobby that fills me up! I love to create and doodle; it brings a quick outlet and costs almost nothing! A little joy for mom goes a long way.
6. Eat one piece of fruit a day, and take one scoop of a healthy greens powder daily. Moms need to supplement our mac and cheese and chicken nugget palatte. This helps!
7. Give myself extra grace. When I mess up, say “I’m sorry.” Nothing is more heavy than mom guilt. Let it go, and try to take deeper breaths next time! We all make mistakes.
8. Take a walk. If you’re a working mom, see if you can get outside for a few minutes on your lunch break. Touch a tree, look at the sky, take a few deep breaths!
9. Love another mom friend. If you grab a coffee on the go, think of another mom who might need one. A simple “I understand you; I’m with you” can change the atmosphere. It takes a village, we’re in this together!
10. Most of all, slow down and enjoy. Every moment, of every day.

It is difficult, yes. But it is worth it. It can be challenging, yes. But we will grow! It can be downright scary, yes. But God is always bigger. Live with simplicity, trust in His goodness, pray all the time. You are a world-changer! Your life and heart matter.

Click here to download the printable!

{About Sarah Humphrey}

Often considered a dreamer and silly heart, Sarah Humphrey uses inspiration from her most beloved career, motherhood, to fuel her passion for writing, creative movement and teaching. She has and is authoring several books and children’s books. Sarah currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and three beautiful, bouncy kids.

Find out more about Sarah at http://sarahhumphrey.com.

{40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood + giveaway}

40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood: Devotions and Coloring Book to Nourish Mom (Abingdon Press, August 2016)

Nourishment for a mother’s soul through 40 days of devotion and . . . doodling!

Wouldn’t it be marvelous if mothering came with a concrete set of instructions—an easy recipe we could follow? Instead, motherhood challenges women to find their faith, their true selves, and their family through daily doses of trial and error. It is a brilliant and healing time of life that is full of joy, pain, and beauty with a small side of crisis (and humor). What mothers do not know, they learn. And through this lifelong process of learning, they nurture and care for the most precious gifts on earth: children. In a modern society where moms often have a full and busy plate, these 10 minute daily devotions focus on six key topics of motherhood:

—Self-acceptance
—Self-care
—Reconciling with grief, hope and expectations
—Generosity
—Presence
—Forgiveness

In addition to the devotions, these beautiful pages are adorned with handmade illustrations to help you refresh from long days or even occasional sleepless nights. So, grab your colors and a little quiet time for yourself while doodling at the kitchen table. You will be grateful you did!

Learn more and purchase a copy.

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