Weary moms, read this from Mandy today and be encouraged. What you do at home with your little people IS important! Look at it as a ministry!
Often, as Mom's we get weary. It is okay to admit – we all do! I have struggled to combat this feeling for months, trying to figure out what I am doing wrong that makes being a Mommy so tiresome!
I have come to realize- that it isn't that I get so tired – it is more that I don't have the right attitude and focus as I proceed throughout my day. I look at my motherhood as a job – and not a ministry.
Don't get me wrong! Being a mom is hard WORK! There is no doubt in that. Just like in any job, you get tired – and that is normal! However, when I changed my attitude about it, from work to ministry – from doing for everyone to serving my children – my attitude has shifted. No longer am I grouchy about cooking dinner – I GET to cook dinner!
My Ministry as Mom
These children have been put in my life as my own little mission field – my own little ministry. It is my joy and privilege to live out Jesus before them, and lead them in truth (1 Timothy 3:15). My prayer is that they will except Jesus as Savior– and from there, that we will be in training mode to raise them to be shot, like arrows, from our home, blazing with love for Jesus and a heart for His Word and His World.
I noticed that as my perception changed to this, my attitude changed. Now, when they did something wrong, it was a teachable moment. A time to show them in scripture why what they have done didn't just offend me, or their sibling, but the God who loved them and created them. Now, the discipline was more than time out – it was the training of a solider. My job of feeding and doing laundry? Now it was an opportunity to help them prepare for the next thing they need to do – where the Lord is going to guide and direct them in other areas of life.
My Kids vs. His Kids
I also took the focus off them being MY kids. My story is different then many Mama's. I can't have children of my own, so these children were born to my husband and his late wife. They day my husband and I got married, we dedicated our family unit before the Lord. We gave it to him.
Children are a reward and heritage from the Lord. They belong to Him. When we get to Heaven, we will be responsible for how we trained and raised and loved God's KIDS. Not mine. God's. Wow. When I take the focus off the fact that they are mine, only because God gave them to me – and see that ultimately, they are His, it changes the way I view them.
We are so quick to want to serve others. We want to be able to share truth and grace and love. Yet, we don't look at our kids as an opportunity to serve God. To bring him glory. As an opportunity to share truth, and grace and love.
Today, right now, look at your children from God's eyes. Look at them as a way to bring Him glory. Remember they are His. Serve them, and by doing so, serve Him. He deserves all your worship.
Worshiping With My Life,
Mandy
Mandy is the daughter of the One True King, and Wife to Scott. She is Mama to Rebekah (13), Jared (9) and Elizabeth (6). Mandy is passionate about living a life of Worship to her Creator through her study of the Word of God, her Intimate daily Walk with Jesus, her Marriage, her Motherhood, and her Ministry. She writes about these passions at Women of Worship and also serves behind the scenes at Good Morning Girls. Mandy welcomes you to follow her on Facebook and Pinterest.