The Pass/Fail Test I Wasn’t Prepared to Take

by | Aug 26, 2018

He had watched his older brother and sister stand on the front porch for their first day of school photos for years. He knew exactly what he was doing Monday morning when I said, “Okay, let’s take a picture before we leave for Pre-K.”

He tucked his arms into his Batman back pack and with his brand new blue shoes and his happiest smile and silliest pose, my youngest proudly took his place on the porch as the last baby I will send off to school.

I could write an entire book on all of the thoughts that went through my mind from the moment I snapped that photo until the moment he came back through the front door… All the questions… all the praying… all the wondering and wishing and celebrating and mourning.

But there was this one thought that I just couldn’t shake. As I looked at the pictures of him on my phone I wondered,

“Did I enjoy him enough? Did I enjoy the time I was given?”

All of the endless days that seemed to drag on forever full of picking up the same messes, and making the same meals, and washing the same clothes, and having the same little smiling face following me around all day… were just over.

And I knew that I would miss it, Heaven knows that they all tells us we will miss it… but NOBODY… NOT ONE PERSON… told me that on the day I sent my baby off to school I would issue myself a test with one question and a pass/fail grade.

“Did you enjoy the time that you were given enough?”

Because if someone had told me, I could have prepared. I could have cataloged all of the happy moments in my mind. I could have bookmarked them and highlighted them and made sure they were well-documented. Because I know we had plenty. We had days at the park and moments playing on the floor and happy memories of trips to the store.

But on the morning of the test, all the good is nearly impossible to remember. Suddenly, all you can think of is every time you were too busy to play, or said, “Just a minute” for far too long, or didn’t have it in you to read one more book or watch one more performance of hopping on one foot.

All you can think of are the moments you should have enjoyed more.

And that’s exactly where the Enemy of our hearts comes roaring in, seeking to devour our joy.

“It wasn’t enough. You didn’t do enough, love enough, care enough and now it’s too late. There’s nothing you can do about it. Your time is over and you’ll never get it back,” Guilt taunts.

But I have learned this. The scales naturally tip toward guilt because it’s heavier than grace. But that doesn’t make it true.

You and I were there for all of it. We did enjoy it. Yes. There were plenty of days where we just barely made it, where we survived and hoped for a better tomorrow. But moments of love were tucked into those days, as well.

I have a feeling this isn’t the last time we will issue ourselves this test. Perhaps as they get their driver’s license or go off to college, that test will slap itself down in front of our hearts and demand, “DECIDE. RIGHT HERE. RIGHT NOW. DID YOU ENJOY ALL OF IT ENOUGH?”

And so from here we get to prepare. We have the chance to take notes and catalogue in our memories of the times we hugged them longer, and breathed deeper, and soaked up their smallness. We can take mental snapshots of the moments they wrapped their arms around our necks and said, “You’re the bestest Momma ever.” We can record within ourselves the walks around the block and the times we pushed them in the cart at the store and every time they yelled, “Look at this, Mom!”

Don’t forget how great you really are, Mom. Don’t forget how much you really loved them. Because it was enough. It’s always been enough.

You passed.

Book Spotlight

TRUTH UNCHANGING: HEARING GOD DAILY IN THE MIDST OF MOTHERHOOD

Even when there isn't noise around us, there is usually noise within us. The constant to-do lists that spin in our minds, the worry and wonder if we are doing a good job, and the need to stay two steps ahead of our families when we feel two steps behind keeps our minds routinely restless. So when quiet time with God isn't so quiet, and alone time is nearly nonexistent, how can we hear God speak?

Meet Becky Thompson

I’m Becky Thompson. I’m the author of  Hope Unfolding, Love Unending, Truth Unchanging, My Real Story, Midnight Mom Devotional (which I co-wrote with my own momma, Susan Pitts), and Peace. They’ve been USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and ECPA bestsellers. They’ve been on store shelves in Target, Walmart, Barnes and Noble, and even Cracker Barrel. Most importantly, they are connecting women to what Jesus says is true.

I began writing online in 2013 when I created a small fashion blog which grew dramatically in just one year. After one of my articles went viral, I found myself with a large following and opportunities I hadn’t imagined.

In 2016 I founded the Midnight Mom Devotional Community on Facebook which I run with my momma. With one million moms joining together in nightly prayer, we are one of the largest nightly prayer movements in America. We invite you come join us!

I host the Revived Motherhood Podcast, which became one of the top Christian podcasts in America just weeks after it debuted. Season two releases soon!

In my day to day life, you’ll find me living just outside of Nashville, spending my time as a wife to my husband, Jared, and a momma to our three kids.

I’m so glad that you have found your way to this website. For more information or for booking inquiries, please use the contact page.

So much love!

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