I’ve always loved a good checklist. Neatly ticked boxes. So when it comes to parenting, I confess—I often expect myself to grow faster, do better, be better. I imagine maturity as something I can accelerate with just the right combination of books, prayers, and a proper routine.
But grace doesn’t work that way.
Grace doesn’t move at the speed of my ambitions or anxieties. It moves at the pace of presence. And sometimes that pace is painfully slow—especially when I find myself snapping (again), or wishing the bedtime routine didn’t take so long, or feeling guilty for wanting a break before I’ve even started the day.
I thought I’d be more patient by now. More calm. More holy.
But what I’m learning—slowly, gently, and often while holding a cranky baby in one arm and being asked why is the sky blue for the fifth time by little C—is that maturity in motherhood isn’t a race. It’s a refining. Not a sprint toward perfection, but a slow, steady shaping in the hands of grace.
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” — James 1:4
God isn’t rushing me. So why am I?
The fruit of the Spirit isn’t harvested in a hurry. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness… these grow best when rooted in surrender, not striving.
So today, if you’re weary of your own slow growth too—breathe. Grace is not behind schedule. And neither are you.
You’re growing. And that’s enough for today.
Leave a Reply