Am I a Bad Mom?
- Rachael Elmore
- Oct 23, 2024
- 3 min read
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableāif anything is excellent or praiseworthyāthink about such things.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
I looked down into the bright blue eyes of my newborn baby boy. His red hair caught the crisp sunlight as it filtered through my dusty bedroom window. His fingers were perfect. His everything was just as it should be.
But he wouldnāt stop crying.
As a therapist, Iām no stranger to tears. Emotions have never made me uncomfortable. Like a storm chaser, I run toward the whirlwind of emotions rather than away from it. Iām not afraid of the storm ā I was made for it.
So when my son was born, I wasnāt expecting to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, frustrated, anxious, sad, helpless and hopeless. I loved him to my core, but I was starting to believe that I was the worst mom in history.
The downward spiral continued. Around and around it went until I was a puddle of despair. Believing that I was a bad mom, that I wasnāt enough to take care of my baby, the baby boy I would give my life for.
My thoughts about being a bad mom would creep in when I would try to pray, and they would distract me when I was caring for my son. Like a song on repeat, Iām a bad mom was living in my head rent-free and tearing me into a million pieces.
In my job, I have seen how intrusive thoughts can grow tentacles into nearly every part of mothersā lives: self-worth, relationships, careers and faith. Intrusive thoughts can tell us that we are worthless, useless, lazy and ugly. They lie. They cheat. They steal and destroy. Sound familiar? Good. Realizing how harmful these thoughts can be will tell us that itās time for them to go.
And instead of letting those thoughts waltz in and take up residence in our hearts, we can evaluate the ugly intrusive thoughts using Philippians 4:8 as our road map:
āFinally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableāif anything is excellent or praiseworthyāthink about such things.ā
Whatever is true: Is this a thought that is the actual truth? Do we have facts to back it up?
Whatever is noble: Does this thought hold to a high moral standard?
Whatever is right: Is the thought righteous, and does it encourage us to act in accordance with God's law?
Whatever is pure: Does the thought lead us to purity, the action of seeking a life as a redeemed child of God and casting out sin?
Whatever is lovely: Is this a beautiful or pleasing thought?
Whatever is admirable: Does this thought deserve respect and attention?
Whatever is excellent or praiseworthy: Does this thought deserve to be praised or put on a pedestal?
I used Philippians 4:8 as my guide with my intrusive thought ā Iām a bad mom. This thought is not true, noble, righteous, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. The thought was hurtful, not holy.
Now, friend, I challenge you to do the same with your ugly thoughts. Apply the words of Philippians 4:8, and see if these thoughts are allowed to stay.
Your fellow Able Mom,
Rachael Elmore
God, please help me when I struggle with intrusive thoughts. Show me what thoughts are not true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable or praiseworthy. Help me believe Your Word when it says not to think about things that don't align with Your Trut. And, Father, help me let it go. When these thoughts surface, give me the strength to tell the thoughts to go away. In Jesusā Name, Amen.
Connect with Rachael:
THE BOOK
For a practical guide to tackling intrusive thoughts, grab a copy of Rachael Elmoreās book, A Mom Is Born: Biblical Wisdom and Practical Advice for Taking Care of Yourself and Your New Baby.
ENGAGE
Connect with Rachael Elmore on Instagram or on her website, where you can download Rachaelās free āThought Road Mapā to become emotionally healthy and deepen your faith.
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