“God designed motherhood to be a deeply meaningful role. We mothers have the opportunity to influence eternity by building a spiritual legacy in the lives of our children. Through our teaching and influence, morality can be learned and modeled, love and kindness are taught and received, purpose and vision are ignited and passed on.“ – Sally Clarkson
I have two precious souls (with one more making his/her entrance soon) entrusted to my care.
Two little hearts tender to be formed and molded into a man and a woman of God.
Two sweet bodies to be loved and nurtured so they may in turn love others.
Two bodies to dance with and enjoy the beauty of life together.
Two tender minds to be taught the love of learning so they might be equipped to discern truth from error.
Two little mouths to be filled with nourishing food to sustain them and grow them healthy and strong for the Master’s use.
Four little hands to be trained to help, serve, and give gifts of grace to others.
Two little warriors to be equipped with truth so they might be sent out to cause damage on the Enemy’s camp.
Two little voices to sing together in uttering God’s praises for all eternity.
I am called today to pray for these precious gifts, to create life together with them, to offer a listening ear to the cares of their hearts, while always depending hourly upon the Lord for the grace to fulfill this task. To abandon perfection and strive for faithfulness. To be willing to confess my stumbles and short comings.
It will require frequent trips to the bathroom to address heart issues, wiping of many noses, rocking of sick children, many sleepless nights, repeating the same book numerous times, preparing endless meals for thankless children, and many more seemingly mundane tasks. But when I focus on the goal that they are precious eternal souls entrusted to my nurturing care to be brought up as warriors for my King, then I can persevere, as it all becomes worth it. I stand in a very powerful influential place, one that I want to take seriously.
And when I see their smiles, their sweet “I love you, Mommy,” I know this is the best thing I could be doing. When I embrace God’s purpose for me during this season of my life, there is fresh joy to go the distance. They are part of the treasure I am storing up in heaven. Each moment is precious. Each moment is a gift.
I was designed to be a life-giver and to impart life into every day.
Are you giving life today?
“The world may not applaud us for wiping running noses, driving in carpools, or talking with our teenager into the wee hours of the morning. And until they are trained, our children might not thank us either. But as we set aside our own selfish desires and glorify God by joyfully serving our children, we are pursuing true greatness according to the Bible. Let us do so with tenderness, affection, and with a smile!” – Carolyn Mahaney
How beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. What a great reminder of the gift our little ones really are.
just what I needed to hear today!!
Thanks for all the responses to my dilemma. CB, thank you for Isaiah 40:11! Actually, the Father had given me that one a couple years back (especially the part about He gently leads those who have young- I have stood on that one!) and now I am reminded and encouraged afresh with that verse. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I gleened something from each of your posts. Jessica, your words really encouraged my heart. I so needed to hear your story. I think I set a high standard for myself and also tend to get under the pressure put on by other people. Esp in regards to the homeschooling. I love that your family didn’t begin homeschooling right away. I too am a firm believer in learning life’s lessons and the lessons of daily living (learning to sweep, help Mommy with the dishes, garedning, etc) those are all part of schooling! With the constant threats to those who decide to homeschool their children (I live in Calif- an especially hostile state to parents who homeschool), I guess I set the bar high for myself. I do manage to get in a little prayer time for myself, usually in the car, on the way to appointments, errands, play my worship music (so refreshing!) My little one has been trying to climb up into my lap at this writing and I turned to my husband and said “I need a break!” I guess I need to do that more often! My husband and I do host a Bible study in our home every other week and so I am thrilled to be a part of that. It’s just wonderful. I just wish I had the hours in a day, the way some people do, to pour over the scriptures and do deep study, the way I used to be able to do before I was married. I know this is just a season (a busy season!) and each season comes with its different challenges and demands. @ Kim- that was a good idea about increasing the play time. I shy away from Ezzo’s books/theories because I do not agree with the eating/sleeping schedule he advocates in his books by way of c.i.o. method. Both my babies were breastfed, (can’t put breastfeeding on a schedule for newborns, it is on demand) and both were extremely high needs and they would be crying for HOURS! (no joke- I tried it and had to stop; didn’t want to traumatize any further). Not that I wouldn’t try any of his techniques, I am sure he has a lot of wisdom, it is just mixed with some things I do not agree with. MOPS definitely does fill a need for many moms of young children for Christian fellowship, I just can’t bring myself to pay a fee for it. So I continue to take one step at a time, one prayer at a time, and try my best to let go and rely on His grace and strength to get me through the day. Shalom! ~Simcha.
so true – Great words!!!
wow. thank you lindsay! this is BEAUTIFUL. very inspiring for me.
I loved this. I value motherhood so much and it’s wonderful to have others who recognize it’s eternal signifigance as well and can help to inspire me when I might need a reminder. Thank you for sharing the tender feelings your heart.
Wow, thanks for a wonderful reminder! I LOVE the way you write and use your words to encourage us as moms. I am going to print this out to be a constant reminder of my role as a mom!
Just what I needed to hear today!! So in need of those reminders in this long journey.
Good reminders. I was wondering if any of you stay at home with babies and no one to help you. How do you cope? I have 2 in diapers, 1 of them still nursing (17 mo old). Sometimes I feel like the human pacifier and cannot even clean my house, pay bills, she is so clingy and constantly wants to be held. (our family just had the stomach flu. Now she is as high-needs as a newborn and I cannot function). No family members who are willing to help. We just moved and joined a moms group, but the relationships are slow to form. I don’t think there is a co-op of support in the practical sense, it’s rather for moral support and playgroups. I feel like the social, academic, and physical needs of my 3 yr old go unmet because the little one is constantly demanding all of my attention. My husband helps when he can, but he works and commutes for up to 12 or 13 hrs a day and comes home tired. I do not have time for studying the scriptures. Wish I did. It’s one of my favorite things. My prayer times are so short due to the needs of my household and exhaustion. Most times I fall asleep praying. I am determined to homeschool, but I am wondering how I can do that if I cannot even get the piles of laundry done? How do you do it? Help!
I myself am not a mother, but as I read your comment a particular verse came to mind. I have babysat for mom who shared that during a challenging season of carrying for her two young children she recited Isaiah 40:11 for encouragement. It says “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” Sorry I can’t answer your questions, but just felt like I should share that verse with you. Praying for you and your family right now.
My kids are older now at 4 and 6 years old, but I can somewhat relate to where you are right now. I have Fibromyalgia, so the demands of young kids were so difficult for me! My husband did work during the day, but he was usually able to help out with bedtime when he got home around 7pm. It was the middle of the night feedings and the daytime demands that were so difficult for me. I did put both of my kids in a mother’s day out one day a week when they were around the age of yours. It was at a church…I felt very comfortable with the workers…my kids loved playing the other children (even the young ones in the toddler room!). And that gave me at least several hours to get the most important thing around the house done. I did not try to tackle the whole thing in that time! But, it was a good couple of hours to get one big thing accomplished.
The other thing that has helped tremendously is the moms’ Bible study at my church. I know you just moved, so I don’t know if you have a church home there. But, many churches offer a moms’ Bible study…some have MOPS (mother’s of preschoolers) or other groups. They are always open to visitors and not just church members. They include free nursery care while hosting the Bible study for moms. That has been HUGE for me…two hours a week to be with other moms of young kids (bounce off ideas for exactly the situation you are talking about!) and get into the Word as well. Sometimes I have barely made it there, but it’s so worth it!! And it’s produced the best friendships that I have!!
I also highly recommend Sarah Young’s “Jesus Calling” devotion book. It’s a very, very short read each day written from the perspective of Jesus and based on Scripture. I love it b/c I can quickly read it at the start of my day and I find the truths popping up all day long. When you’re in a busy season, something like that really helps! And I know that it’s hard to hear when you’re in the middle of it, but the 17 month old will grow up, everyone will potty train & you’ll have two kids able to do so much for themselves!! It’s a season…but it seems an eternity!
Simcha H: You need to find time for yourself to be with God. Work on the littlest one first, give her small increments of time away from you. Start with 5 minutes and work your way, day by day, so she can be in a quiet area playing, by herself for at least 30-40 minutes. I know what you are going through, mine are now almost 4 and just turned 5, so they are close in age too! Then work on giving the older one some one-on-one time. And finally, get them to stay in “quiet time/nap time” for a good hour or more (work on it step by step, starting at 5 minutes and increasing the time). Even if they don’t sleep, they need time to learn how to play by themselves. And you need time to yourself; to sleep if needed, pray/read scripture, do housework, whatever you need to do. I have gone through “Baby Wise” series of books by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam. It starts teaching babies how to sleep through the night and goes through the preteen age! The books have been a lifeline for me to discipline, teach and guide both me and the children!! I hope this helps!
And I loved the “Little Souls…” it was very precious to remember the mundane tasks are worth the effort!! Thank you.
Simcha, that must be tough! you have my compassion and prayers. i don’t have all the answers to help you (i’m a new mom myself) but i wanted to let you know that i’m one of 10 children and my mom home-schooled us and we all went to university and graduated with honors… so on and so forth. not that schooling is a measure of our success but several of us got our masters degree and Phd’s. with that being said, i wanted to let you know that my mom did not home-school us when we were 3yrs old…i’m not saying that there’s a problem for people who do and she doesn’t think that either…. i’m only saying that so that hopefully you don’t worry about your 3yr old’s schooling right now. this season of life for you is obviously very challenging and it doesn’t seem like you need the extra guilt or stress. it seems as though God made children with their own ability to “learn and be educated” (look at how they learn to talk, walk, and all the other amazing feats they achieve in their first few years!) so i firmly believe that your 3 year old will be perfectly fine until your life gets more into a rhythm and you feel like you have enough control, time and energy to school him/her. i know this may shock people out there but some of my siblings didn’t start official schooling with books, pen and paper until they were 8 years old. my younger sister did that and within just a few months she took tests for admittance into a very prestigious ‘gifted’ academy and she was already the second best student in her class! she made-up in a few months what those other students had been spending years on! she’s now going into her senior year at her first-choice college. honestly, i know that conventionally school starts at age 5 (sometimes younger) but there is so much time wasted and little ones’ minds are naturally growing and expanding with all their day to day activity and interaction. the best thing you can do right now is love those children like it already seems you are. and if you feel guilty for not praying… remember when you love them you are loving and serving the Lord, “what you did for the least of my kingdom, that you did for Me.” also, maybe take those small moments (when you’re in the shower, when you’re nursing your littlest one, ect) and share you’re heart with the Lord, tell Him what’s on your mind and listen to His voice. He’s in your children, and you are doing a great service by being a mother!