You lost your temper.

You completely forgot it was dress up day at school.

You couldn’t find time to fold the laundry for the third day in a row.

You promised you’d put his lunch in his backpack, but you came home to find it on the kitchen counter.

You totally spaced the class party.

You gave in to the tantrum just to make it stop.

You told them you’d take them to the park, but you didn’t.

You served dinner on paper plates, dishes stacked high in the sink.

You forgot to order the cake for the birthday party.

You were late for after-school pick-up.

You said no to a playdate simply because you were too exhausted.

You didn’t stop the baby from eating that random crumb off the floor.

You forgot to buy their favorite snack at the grocery store.

You didn’t wash the jersey in time for the game.

But did you love them?

In the midst of all the messiness of this life, of raising children and tending to a home, did you love them?

Because, in the end, it's your unwavering love that matters most.

You’re going to make mistakes.

You’re going to drop the ball every once in a while.

You’re going to take the easy way out every now and then.

And they’ll notice.

But they won’t remember you for the occasional slip-up.

Or, better yet, they will.

Because it's not that they'll remember what you did or didn’t do; it's that they’ll remember how you taught them that everyone makes mistakes, that everyone is deserving of grace.

So give yourself some grace today, Mama, and simply love them well.