Confessions and Motherhood

Each Sunday, as part of our church's worship service, we read a corporate confession of sin aloud before having a time of silent prayer. The practice of corporate confession was new to me when we first began attending our church, five years ago. Over the course of time I realized that what I appreciate most is that these often rather general confessions of common behavior have challenged me and often revealed greater struggles. Reading together creates a sense of equality -- we are all sinners. It is powerful, convicting, and encouraging.

A few weeks after Hudson was born {after the blissful first days, in the midst of sleep-deprived crankiness} we read the following confession:

Our Lord, forgive us for being angry and grumpy when you call us to serve others. We serve our-selves gladly, but are often bothered when our spouses, parents, roommates [children] and co-workers need our help and interrupt our plans. As we serve, we often grumble silently to ourselves, watching the clock wondering when we can be done. We forget we're serving you first.
Lord God, forgive our selfishness. Amen.

As a mother, struggling with recovering from my cesarean section and coping with a two-year old acting out and a colicky newborn, I felt like this confession was written for me. It is so easy to slip into grumpiness and to let that attitude shape my days. To become ungrateful or to lose perspective will also rob me of the joys. I have been carrying around this confession, re-reading it almost daily. Praying this prayer. I have found this helpful as a mother, a wife, and a friend.

What do you find helpful in the hard moments? Does your church pray corporately? What do you turn to for encouragement?