Beware the Mommy Pride

I have to be honest.... I almost didn't write this post.

But, it keeps playing over and over in my head, so I think I really need to share it.

The other day I heard something about someone else (details not important) and almost immediately I was able to witness a conversation in my head between what I later recognized as my true self and some pride that was trying to sneak it.  The conversation went something like this:

PRIDE:  Hey you are just as good, if not better.  You should do that.
SELF:  But I don't really want to.
PRIDE:  Yes you do.  You want to do that so that you look better and people know that you are smart and important.
SELF:  But I don't really like that.
PRIDE:  Come on, it's not about liking.  It's about looking smart and important.  And you are cool and accepted if you are smart and important.  Don't you want everyone to like you?
SELF:  Seriously?  This is not going to work.  I recognize who you are.  You are pride and you are trying to get in the way of what I am really supposed to do and what my true purpose is.  If I believe you, I will get stuck in a situation that I don't like and will be super stressed because I am living out of alignment.  I am a mother and that is my purpose.  Anything that distracts or derails me from that is not my purpose is not something that I am going to indulge in.  I want to do things that highlight my purpose.  Thank you very much, keep your mouth shut, and have a nice day.

I am just grateful that I was able to recognize that one of these voices was pride.  And the more I reflected on this happening the more I saw the temptation to be have pride when it comes to being a mom.  Pride can sneak in in so many different ways.  There are two big ones that can really get in the way of being a good mom.

First, like my experience above, is the prideful temptation that we are not good enough being a mother.  Now there is a difference between feeling like it is your purpose to have an additional thing you do, but for many of us there is the pull to worldly glory that distract from what we are really supposed to be doing.

Second, is the temptation to have pride in our children.  And I don't mean being proud of your children for doing something good.  I mean comparing your children to other children in an effort to make them look better and then in turn have more worldly glory that you are better because you have the better children.

See the pattern here?  WORLDLY GLORY.  Being a mom is not about what the world thinks.  Being a mom is about being the best you can be and helping your children to become the best they can be.  Just beware that the closer you get to becoming your best, the more pride will try to sneak in.  Pride does not want you to actually be your best.  Pride wants you to fail.  So stay strong!  Beware the Pride and live for those that really matter!