STOP, PRAY, and BREATHE

Sometimes my emotions get the best of me and I forget to breathe.

I am currently a stay-at-home, work-at-home (part time) mom of one beautiful little blessing of a boy that he is, but there are several moments when I feel overwhelmed as a mother and stop breathing.

I stopped breathing when I got heart-wrenching test results during pregnancy; I felt hopeless.

I stopped breathing in the hospital when his heart rate dropped on and off for about four hours; and then 6-minutes flat.  Laying in that hospital bed surrounded by nurses, talking with my doctor about the next best course of action, I felt helpless and afraid.

I stopped breathing one week after bringing my baby boy home from the hospital and feeding seemed impossible and the crying was constant; no one in the house was sleeping and I was exhausted.

I stop breathing at least once a week when my baby boy; well NOW a toddler boy cries for no reason, throws a tantrum because he does not get what he wants, or screams because he is frustrated and cannot express himself any other way.

I am going to say it – motherhood is HARD – and it is difficult to stay calm and remember to breathe when our kids get hurt or when we have simply just been pushed to our limit and are ready to scream ourselves.

With all of that said, motherhood is AMAZING and breathing is an essential part of life. We would be lifeless without it and who is going to take care of our children better than us??

So we need to take care of ourselves throughout the ups and the downs of motherhood.

Pull yourself out of the lows —
STOP, PRAY, and BREATHE
— remember that this too shall pass.

Enjoy the happiest moments —
STOP, PRAY, and BREATHE
— remember this is a blessing.

When your toddler is throwing the loudest tantrum in the middle of the grocery store or Target (because that happens to me, oh so often), and you feel like everyone around you is staring, just stop, ask God for patience in that moment, and breathe.

When you feel emotionally and physically drained because you feel like you just can’t possibly get everything done off your “to do list”, just stop, ask God to put your exhaustion to rest, and breathe.

When you are drowning in mom tears because you feel like you cannot do anything right, just stop, ask God for clarity, and breathe.

When you have the best day ever with and without your children, stop, thank God for that moment, and breathe.

When you wake up just 15 minutes before your kids in the morning and have a moment to yourself, stop, talk to God and ask him for a good day, and breathe (oh and don’t forget to enjoy a hot cup of coffee)!

When everyone in the house has gone to bed and you have a moment to yourself, stop, pray to God, and just breathe before you shut your eyes.

Breathe through the difficult moments of your day and breathe in all of the wonderful memories that you are building, no matter how small they might seem.

Inhale and exhale.  Remember to release the control that you want to have over your life and pray to God, putting your trust and your life in his hands.

It’s okay to feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and anxious at times, motherhood will do that to you and you are human.  Just know that you are not alone.

So when your emotions take over, happy or sad, just take a moment to
STOP, PRAY, and BREATHE.  

You got this mama and you are doing great.