It’s so easy, especially when your kids are little and completely dependent on you, to slip into the feeling that all you are is “just a mom.” When the days are long, the backseat becomes a battleground, your errand list doubles in size, there’s another school event to attend, and if you hear the word “Mom” one more time you might scream… that’s when I have to stop, take a deep breath, and remember:

Motherhood is one of the most rewarding callings this side of Heaven.

The truth is, being “just a mom” is, I believe, one of the greatest blessings God entrusts to us. When I became a mother, everything changed, not only in the daily tasks, but in my heart. My love for God deepened in ways I never expected. Through loving my children, I’ve caught the tiniest glimpse of how God loves His children. And to realize that God loves my babies even more than I do? That’s a breathtaking picture of the gospel.

I would lay down my life for those cheese-puff-covered hands and runny noses—and yet, that is exactly what God did for me, and for you, sending His Son Jesus to bear a cross He didn’t deserve.

When I look at the mothers in Scripture, I feel a conviction to drop the “just” from my thoughts. God chose to give His Son an earthly mother born of a virgin, nurtured in the arms of a woman who would guide Him through His days here on earth. That’s no small thing.

I’m not dismissing the difficult days and challenging moments. Motherhood can be exhausting, and it’s essential to care for ourselves, too. But in the midst of the laundry piles, scraped knees, and bedtime stories, we are shaping the next generation of leaders.

And if you’re like me, you long for your sons and daughters to be completely sold out for Jesus.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a closer look at some of the real-life moms we meet in the Bible. Their stories are raw, inspiring, and often surprising—and I believe they will encourage us in our own journeys.

P.S. If you’re reading this with an ache in your heart, longing for the title “Mom,” please know I’m praying for you. I see your hope, your waiting, and your tears. God’s timing is perfect, and His plan is always for your good—even when it’s hard to understand in the moment.

With love and grace,

Kaitie

Photo Credit: Kayleigh Ross Photography