Motherhood is a Prayer Breathed Out
Something I believe. . .
Motherhood is
Weighty and wonderful,
Sometimes monotonous and boring,
But also exciting and spontaneous,
While being grievous and frustrating.
It’s both stretching and structured,
Straightforward and confusing,
Tiresome and energizing,
Painful and healing,
Draining and lifegiving,
Hopeful and despairing.
//
It’s playing
the long game
Though your finish line will likely
(hopefully)
Come before theirs;
Knowing their race
Is theirs alone to run
And you are just
the coach.
//
It’s trusting
that their numbered days,
No matter the length,
Will count for something;
That our minutes, hours, days, nights,
Months, years, decades of
Raising
will lead to them
Laying
Down their lives
someday.
//
It’s believing
None of it’s wasted.
None of it’s wasted.
None of it’s wasted.
Motherhood is
A prayer breathed out,
A life living out:
Each of them
is worth it.
All of this
is worth it.
//
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved [rest].
Psalm 127:1-2
//
Copyright © 2023 Ashley Holston
Ashley Holston was born and raised in Northern Virginia, and she now resides in Maryland with her college sweetheart husband, as well as their 4 kids—2 boys, 2 girls, and a tiebreaker baby on the way! She is a homeschooling mama who, when not teaching or shuttling kids to activities, loves to read, write, spend time with family and friends, and participate in the life of her local church. You can follow Ashley’s musings on faith, motherhood, and everyday living on her blog, on the way home, as well as on her Instagram page, @ashleydholston.
This articulates the complex thing called motherhood so well. I just read it 3 times. So good!