You Can Do It!
by Sherry Surratt

“I CAN Do it!” said my then 3-year-old daughter, Brittainy, as she fought vehemently for the right to choose the perfect top to go with the skirt that I’d selected for her to wear to preschool. Feeling more than a bit peeved at having to wear “a dumb ole skirt,” she was now taking her time deliberating over the top, the choice of shoes and even the color of her socks.

With my blood pressure rising, I reminded myself that, for a 3-year-old, the power to choose was a big deal. Making decisions was new and exciting for her. Even if the major determiners were based on what didn’t itch. The decisions we make with preschoolers — and the ones we let them make — vary in importance, but are all part of the growth process.

Long gone are the days of choosing outfits for school and rushing around in the mornings. Now, with two adult children and a beautiful granddaughter toddling around, the scope of our decisions has changed with the new seasons of life. Will my kids be happy and fulfilled in their careers? What will our family’s relationships be like as we are separated by many miles? Will my husband, Geoff, and I have the wisdom to listen and be supportive, but not try to make their decisions?

In our recent move from California to Colorado, as I transitioned into my new role as CEO at MOPS, the decisions my husband and I faced seemed endless. Should we put our house on the market or rent it? Where should we live in Denver? What should we pack and what should we give away or leave behind? I’m not usually one to shrink back from making decisions, but I had moments when I thought I’d like to hide under the bed and let someone ELSE decide for me.

While this is tempting, I know for a fact that quivering under the bed and abdicating my decision-making responsibilities is not what God wants for me, especially when it comes to my children. When he made me a mom, he equipped me with a heart full of love and compassion for my children and a sound mind with which to reason. He also gave me his Word to gently remind me that I’m never alone.

I love the words of the prophet Isaiah, as he speaks to the children of Israel, “Do you feel like a lowly worm, Jacob? Don’t be afraid. Feel like a fragile insect, Israel? I’ll help you. I, God, want to reassure you. The God who buys you back, The Holy of Israel.” (Isaiah 41:14, The Message)
Ever feel like a fragile insect as a mom? I have. There were days when it felt like if I had to make one more decision, my head was going to explode. If I had one more care laid on my shoulders, I would crumble. There were hours spent in indecision and second-guessing and feeling like I wasn’t enough. I think as moms, no matter what stage we’re in, we sometimes feel like this. And I know God understands.

So whether you are a mom of a newborn who hasn’t yet grasped the concept that night is for sleeping, or you have a preschooler who lives to flush the soap down the toilet, or you have a 2nd grader who is developing their own style or you share a house with a teenager who has mastered the art of sass — or even all four — you can do it! Sure, the decisions seem endless, some big and some small. But you CAN do it. And God’s right there to help.

Introducing Our New MOPS International CEO and President Sherry Surratt. Sherry moved from California to Colorado in January to begin her new role. She and her husband, Geoff, have two adult children and a 1-year-old granddaughter. Previously, she worked with Leadership Network.