Mothering to Please Jesus

I was lying in bed reading this new book, My Heart's at Home: Becoming the Intentional Mom Your Family Needs by Jill Savage. I had to write this in an effort to encourage my mommy friends -- it really encouraged me. I recently found some old high school friends on Facebook (so addicting - I've wasted entirely too much time on it already) and it's easy to get discouraged. Some of them have big, important, money-earning careers and I find myself not proud to announce that I stay at home with my 2 kiddos. We hear over and over how mothering is the most important job, but it doesn't always sink in. That almost seems like a way of consoling mothers because they don't have "real careers," you know? Sorry to sound harsh, but I'm being honest. So this poem in the book struck a chord with me:

Continue On

by Roy Lessin

A woman once fretted over the usefulness of her life.

She feared she was wasting her potential being a

devoted wife and mother.

She wondered if the time and energy she invested in her

husband and children would make a difference. At times

she got discouraged because so much of what she

did seemed to go unnoticed and unappreciated.

"Is it worth it?" she often wondered.

"Is there something better that

I could be doing with my time?"

It was during one of these moments of questioning

that she heard the still small voice of her heavenly

Father speak to her heart.

"You are a wife and mother because that is what I

have called you to be.

Much of what you do is hidden from the public eye.

But I notice.

Most of what you give is without remuneration.

But I am your reward.

Your husband cannot be the man I have called him to be

without your support. Your influence upon him is greater than

you think and more powerful than you will ever know. I bless

him through your service and honor him through your love.

Your children are precious to Me.

Even more precious than they are to you.

I have entrusted them to your care to raise for Me.

What you invest in them is an offering to Me.

You may never be in the public spotlight.

But your obedience shines as a bright light before Me.

Continue on. Remember you are My servant.

Do all to please Me."

I get in the mindset that Andy and I have had 2 babies and they are ours to raise. Our boys. Wrong! These are God's people that He's given us to raise for a short time. He gave me an incredibly important task with major purpose. He entrusted me with 2 of His own to bring up that they would know and glorify Him. I also am encouraged to remember that Andy is blessed by God through my service and love. I want to think of my dinner-cooking and floor-cleaning and bottle-feeding and Jake-tickling as all service to Jesus. Jesus, may I do it all for You!