I was going to be a perfect mom today…then I overslept and rushed everybody out the door.

I was going to be a perfect mom today…then I corrected my children with loud, shrill tones instead of gentle words.

I was going to be a perfect mom today…then I let them eat chips and cookies for breakfast.

I was going to be a perfect mom today…then I chose cleaning the kitchen over playing with dolls.

I was going to be a perfect mom today….then my daughter talked back and I lost my temper.

I was going to be a perfect mom today…then I got so busy scrolling Instagram that I wasn’t listening while she told me a story about the cat.

I was going to be a perfect mom today…then I had to dig through a pile of dirty laundry to find the t-shirt she needs to wear for school tomorrow.

I was going to be a perfect mom today…then I asked God for His power to grant me self-control, His wisdom to parent my children according to their own bent, His forgiveness for my failure to obey His commands, His grace to guide me through the rest of the day, and His love to shine through me to these children.

Because while I’ll never be a perfect mom, I can be a mom who, with God’s help, loves her children well and points them to our perfect Heavenly Father.

*Adapted from a post originally published in April 2014.