Free shipping on all orders over $75🎄

On an ordinary Tuesday night, her dimly lit office seems more like a living room than a counselor’s office. Her couch beckons me. It’s calling out to my weary soul begging me to unload the burdens of the last couple weeksor the past 40 years.

I know not to lay down. I had made that mistake already, nearly 17 years before. It’s not like the movies.

All these years later, and I’d say I’m a seasoned pro.

So, why do I still struggle walking through those doors?

It’s the appearance. What would people think if they knew I was seeing a counselor? What was so wrong with me that I couldn’t fix it on my own or by talking with friends about it over chips and queso on Taco Tuesday?

Was I so weak that I couldn’t muscle through this?

The truth is it wasn’t about something being wrong with me.

RELATED: Check on Your “Strong” Friend, She’s Faking it

It wasn’t even about me being weak.

I had tried everything I could think of to deal with these issues.

Yes, I even prayed.

But it’s no different than the time our minivan needed major repair. And it’s definitely no different than the time my toddler flushed a doorknob down the toilet.

Despite my best efforts, I just didn’t have it within my ability to fix the problem.

I needed to call a professional.

My weakness didn’t bring me into her office. Neither did a lack of faith. It was wisdom.

Because only a fool would realize they had no idea how to fix the problem and still keep working at it. My mama didn’t raise no fool. And yours didn’t either, friend.

That thing you’re trying to fight on your own? You don’t have to.

The loss of a friendship.

Battles from your childhood.

The death of a parent.

Difficult family relationships.

Sometimes, we don’t have it within us to work through these issues on our own.

And those people who scoff and whisper about people who see counselors. Well, sister, they could probably use some counseling, too.

RELATED: Happy People Go to Therapy, Too

We all could.

Some things in this life are too hard to handle on our own. Our hearts ache so much we just need someone else to help carry a little bit of the hurt, you know?

So, every Tuesday has become a much-needed reprieve for this mom. Every couple of weeks, I sit down on that comfy couch and discuss past hurts, current issues, and future fears. And I’m always directed back to the best Counselor I have.

RELATED: It’s OK to Admit You’re Not OK, Mama

Somewhere along the way, I allowed my life experiences to shape my view of Him. No wonder prayer and reading the Bible wasn’t cutting it. As much as I heard His whispers trying to shake my misconceptions, I just couldn’t shake the lies by myself.

In His loving way, He brought me to someone who teaches me about the lies and stands in my corner while I fight them.

He’s loving like that, my Counselor.

So I proudly settle into that couch to learn more about who He is and who I am because of Him.

Then I walk out of her office to meet up with friends and grab a bite to eat.

Because everything is better after enjoying some Jesus and tacos.

So God Made a Mother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our new book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Order Now

Ana Bright

Ana Bright is a cheerleader for moms. She empowers mamas who are raising (sometimes extra) strong-willed kids. You can find her at Grace and Glory Moms, where she shares hope, humor, and helpful tips for making it through motherhood while holding tightly onto Jesus.

Your Husband Needs Friendship Too

In: Faith, Friendship, Marriage
3 men smiling outside

As the clock inches closer to 7:00 on a Monday evening, I pull out whatever dessert I had prepared that week and set it out on the kitchen counter. This particular week it’s a trifle, but other weeks it may be brownies, pound cake, or cookies of some kind. My eyes do one last sweep to make sure there isn’t a tripping hazard disguised as a dog toy on the floor and that the leftover dinner is put away. Then, my kids and I make ourselves scarce. Sometimes that involves library runs or gym visits, but it mostly looks like...

Keep Reading

This Is Why Moms Ask for Experience Gifts

In: Faith, Living, Motherhood
Mother and young daughter under Christmas lights wearing red sweaters

When a mama asks for experience gifts for her kids for Christmas, please don’t take it as she’s ungrateful or a Scrooge. She appreciates the love her children get, she really does. But she’s tired. She’s tired of the endless number of toys that sit in the bottom of a toy bin and never see the light of day. She’s tired of tripping over the hundreds of LEGOs and reminding her son to pick them up so the baby doesn’t find them and choke. She’s tired of having four Elsa dolls (we have baby Elsa, Barbie Elsa, a mini Elsa,...

Keep Reading

When You Just Don’t Feel Like Christmas

In: Faith, Living
Woman sad looking out a winter window

It’s hard to admit, but some years I have to force myself to decorate for Christmas. Some years the lights look a little dimmer. The garlands feel a bit heavier. And the circumstances of life just aren’t wrapped in a big red bow like I so wish they were. Then comparison creeps in like a fake Facebook friend and I just feel like hiding under the covers and skipping it all. Because I know there’s no way to measure up to the perfect life “out there.” And it all just feels heavier than it used to. Though I feel alone,...

Keep Reading

When Your Kids Ask, “Where Is God?”

In: Faith, Kids
Child looking at sunset

How do I know if the voice I’m hearing is God’s voice? When I was in high school, I found myself asking this question. My dad was a pastor, and I was feeling called to ministry. I didn’t know if I was just hearing my dad’s wish or the call of God. I was worried I was confusing the two. It turns out, I did know. I knew because I was raised to recognize the presence of God all around me. Once I knew what God’s presence felt like, I also knew what God’s voice sounded like. There is a...

Keep Reading

To the Woman Longing to Become a Mother

In: Faith, Grief, Motherhood
Woman looking at pregnancy test with hand on her head and sad expression

To the woman who is struggling with infertility. To the woman who is staring at another pregnancy test with your flashlight or holding it up in the light, praying so hard that there will be even the faintest line. To the woman whose period showed up right on time. To the woman who is just ready to quit. I don’t know the details of your story. I don’t know what doctors have told you. I don’t know how long you have been trying. I don’t know how many tears you have shed. I don’t know if you have lost a...

Keep Reading

I Was There to Walk My Mother to Heaven

In: Faith, Grief, Loss
Hand holding older woman's hand

I prayed to see my momma die. Please don’t click away yet or judge me harshly after five seconds. I prayed to see, to experience, to be in the room, to be a part of every last millisecond of my momma’s final days, final hours, and final moments here on Earth. You see, as a wife of a military man, I have always lived away from my family. I have missed many birthdays, celebrations, dinners, and important things. But my heart couldn’t miss this important moment. I live 12 hours away from the room in the house where my momma...

Keep Reading

God Sent Me to You

In: Faith, Motherhood
Newborn gazing at mother with father smiling down

I was a little unsure As I left God’s warm embrace: What will it be like? What challenges will I face? There were so many questions Running through my mind. I asked around for the answers I was hoping to find. Who will hold me And cuddle me tight? Who will rock me To sleep at night? RELATED: The Newborn Nights Feel As Endless As My Love For You Who will comfort me When I’ve had a rough day? Who will be there To take my worries away? Who will nourish me And make sure I grow? Who will read...

Keep Reading

Addiction Doesn’t Get the Final Say Over My Son

In: Faith, Motherhood
Woman praying with head bowed

She is so tired. It is a kind of tired that no amount of sleep or rest can alleviate. It is a kind of tired that surpasses physical and even mental fatigue. It is a tiredness of soul—a tiredness that comes from wondering, and grieving, and not knowing how to save her son from the drugs the enemy has bound him up in. She kneels alone on the floor in her bedroom closet. This is where she came when the fear and the uncertainty and the panic started to creep into her heart again. She came here to pray, though...

Keep Reading

I Want to Be a Praying Mama

In: Faith, Motherhood
Dirt road at dusk

I want to be that praying mama. The one who stops on the side of the road when the time seems fit, just to take those few short, undistracted moments to lift my kids up to God. I want to be that praying mama. The one who prays while she drives down the road to schools and lifts each one up as they exit the car for the start of their day. RELATED: Praying For Your Kids is Holy Work of Motherhood I want to be that praying mama. The one who does it so much that the youngest doesn’t...

Keep Reading

Blessed Are Those Who Can’t Even

In: Faith, Living
Woman rubbing temples with hands, color photo

We argued about an orange last night after dinner. Not even a large orange. A tiny mandarin. As emotions escalated between my beloved husband and me, the eldest child graciously removed herself from the table and donned noise-canceling headphones while the smallest child openly snickered and was dispatched to her room to play while we hashed things out in “peace.” I’d love to say that was the most insane thing we’ve ever argued about, but that would be a lie. My kids love to remind us about the breadstick incident a few years back. Life has been a bit overwhelming...

Keep Reading