Happy Mother’s Day! Today, we celebrate the hard work, love, and dedication that mothers pour from their hearts into their families every single day. You are appreciated and loved!

When God talks about your heart, He’s interested in what you will do despite the feelings you have. Our feelings come to mind when people talk about the heart, and this causes us to think about what we feel. When it comes to our hearts, we immediately think about our emotions. In the Bible, the heart is not defined this way. A person’s heart is not what they feel; it’s what they do!

Imagine an exhausted mother caring for her children while feeling guilty about her emotions. Maybe she is single, has put all of her children to bed, and wants to relax by watching TV or taking a bath. But after changing so many diapers, preparing meals, and taking care of the children all day, she needs to get some work done on her computer. This mother feels guilty because she doesn’t feel much love towards her children at that moment, or because she’s been impatient, or whatever her frustrations may be. It disappoints her that the children don’t listen to her. She feels guilty for feeling those emotions, but God doesn’t care — God cares that she did the work! The heart isn’t in the feelings; it’s in the actions. It’s what you do despite how you feel.

So, you have to ask yourself, does she love her children despite the fact that she cannot feel anything when she is tired late at night? Friend, the answer is a resounding yes! Take a look at the work she did to make sure her children were cared for. God cares about that; that’s what matters to Him. You don’t have to take on shame, guilt, or condemnation. Let the Holy Spirit guide and assist you in your actions!