What We Don't See

This Mormon Messages clip has been circling (guys, I just had to retype the word "circling" like 5 times until it was spelled right. That's the level my brain is functioning at right now. Gives you an idea of what I'm about to blog about) around my social media lately and I know I am not the only one who has cried tears of joy/understanding/giving THANKS to whoever was inspired to make it.
Because all of us have days, weeks, months, and years like this.

And no one sees it.

At least, there are plenty of times where I don't feel like anyone notices. It's more like, what's there to notice about my day today? A lot of times I look back and feel like I did nothing to show for it. Even though I did laundry, swept up for the hundredth time sticky baby food off the floor, wiped down my bathroom, made our bed, went grocery shopping, paid some bills, filled up the car with gas, etc. Now, don't go thinking I do all those things every day, all day. It's just stuff that I feel like I do all the time, but it's more like there's just that one more little thing to do that no one cares about, yet still feels like it needs to be done.

And that's not even tying in all the "motherly" duties that have now become just as much. Constantly changing diapers, spoon feeding food only to get it spit back out at me when she's totally over it, bouncing in my arms while looking out the window, or at anything that will distract her from crying, putting down for naps, getting up from naps, giving baths, making bottles, reading stories, picking up toys and giving them to her to be played with for 2 seconds then get dropped again, etc, etc, etc.

And no one sees it. And yet this is my day, every day. And that's how it will be for the next X amount of years.


Satan is the one who wants us to feel like nothing we do matters. He wants us to become discouraged and throw our hands up and say "WHY am I really doing this? ANY of this? Who is even benefiting from it? All I feel is tired, and burdened and don't see any end in sight."  And I will admit that there have been plenty of times when I have felt that exact way. It seems more so lately. I feel like I am the biggest critic of my mothering skills, which I know is really ridiculous because NO ONE SEES. But for some reason I feel like I fail all. the. time. Especially because no one is here every day to cheer me on and pat me on the back and say "Hey, your child is still alive and thriving, good for you!" Or "Look at you trying this technique out on her even though it didn't do anything, way to give it a try!"

I always forget that there ARE others who see what I do every day, all day. And who I should remember really are cheering me on, even though I can't see it. But I bet if I took a minute or so each day, I could feel it. And feel better.

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are always right there with me, and with you, in whatever your day to day life is. Whether you are at work all day and don't get a second glance at the work you produced, or you are at home with kids and at your wits end from being so tired and up to your neck in things you need to get done, we are not alone.

This video reminded me of that. And the small and simple things we do each day, that we don't even give a second thought about, most likely are benefiting someone. We just don't see it.

But Heavenly Father does, and He loves us. He thanks us every day for being moms and doing our best to raise good kids, even when it feels like we are getting no where. He thanks us for doing our best at our jobs and other commitments because He knows we are trying. And that is what matters.