What they don't see.

Guys, life is hard, like crazy hard. Especially for moms.

There is so much pressure, on what to feed your kids, what sleeping method to use, are your kids potty trained by 2, and making sure your kids are eating all-natural, non-gmo, no hormones, no antibiotics, nitrates, nitrites, made from hungarian monks granola.

Then with the pressure comes the comparisons. Guess what...90% of these come from inside our own heads.

We think, well they eat all organic, maybe I should? They shop at the Gap for all their kids, should I? They have their kids on the paleo/vegan/whole30 diet, maybe I should?

Why do we do this to ourselves? It's like high school all over again, and, quite frankly, its tiring. I hated high school. Not in the moment, I loved it. I was involved, I had awesome friends, and dated a lot. It all changed my senior year when one of my best friends set out to make my life as miserable as can be. That was the beginning of the end.

Looking back at my high school career now, I was so caught up in the science behind what made kids more likable, what made them popular, and how could I possibly be more like them. I wanted to use their same beauty products, certain it would make all the difference in the world. This is how advertising executives make their money.

Why do we compare ourselves to others? Inherently, it is a survival trait. We see someone that is well-liked, attractive, and healthy looking, we mimic their behaviors to provide the best outcomes to survive this life.

This is Facebook, and I find myself questioning my choice on being online to begin with. Everyone posts what they want you to see, and basically live their life to post on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. (ex. let's go to the park, it would make a great photo op for Instagram. Then people will see I go to the park with my kids)

But what do people on Facebook not see? They don't see the messy, the cranky, and the everyday life.

Recently, I've had a lot of people come up to me because of some of my Facebook posts and say, "Wow you are such a wonder mom! You have had a sick husband, ran 2 half marathons, and graduated with your degree!"

They don't see the lack of sleep from studying at night, knowing I can't stop going to school because my husband isn't in full remission.

They don't see the anxiety I get from the unknown, from chickens dying, and the counseling I go to because of the stress and coping I need for my life. Running is how I treat my anxiety; when I run, I feel better, and the endorphins help me be my best self for my kids.

They don't see the hours of chemo appointments, the scans, the doctors that I struggle with.

The overeating because sometimes that's how I deal with defiant child I have been blessed with.

Like I said, life is hard.

The only One who sees everything, is Heavenly Father and Christ. They see the messy life along with the primped Facebook life. They see the struggles and the triumphs. They are there for us anytime, and are encouraging us to press forward.

Matthew 6 teaches us to not live our life to be seen of men; we need to live our lives to praise God, do what He would have us do, and find those who are searching for light in the dark, messy, and crazy world.

Because without God, how would we navigate anything in this world?