Excellence In Motherhood Is Not A Facade Of Perfection
Listen, I’m all about taking time for yourself when you are a wife and mother. I’m also all about grasping the truth that we can’t do it all, have it all, for all, all the time. I won’t ignore the fact that we can get tired from being up all night with sick kids, get bored by the mundane, and feel that sometimes we need a break. But Lord, have mercy on me if I ever feel like giving up, getting bitter, or even just plain old apathetic.
Call me crazy, but I think we need to be excellent-to honor God and inspire others. It's not about a façade of perfection. It's about the heart. Mothering is hard. Cleaning your house is hard. Being patient and teaching your children over stretches of years to share, keep their hands to themselves, and eat their vegetables, is hard. Putting on lipstick for your husband in record time before you hear the key in the door is hard.
But hard does not equal bad. Challenge does not equal bad. Run of the mill repetition does not equal bad. Feeling inadequate does not equal bad. Knowing you have a long day ahead does not mean it’s bad.
It means that you, in your home, in front of a cloud of witnesses, have an opportunity to face a mountain, power up with the Holy Spirit, and conquer for the sake of Jesus. You. You, have everything you need through Christ to not slack off, to battle your feelings of weariness, and press on.
Everyone else may say its okay to let it go-those things that are in your power to accomplish-after all, it’s just dishes. Others may laugh it off and chalk it up to another day, another dinner. But I’m afraid. I’m afraid that when we become blasé about our calling to manage our homes, love our husbands, and train our children, that we will stop looking different from the world around us.
We aren’t called to slack off. We aren’t commissioned to do the minimum. We aren’t positioned to take a seat.
We are pleaded with to do everything to the glory of God, who gave His all for us. We are charged to do whatever we do-even eating or drinking, to testify of God’s glory. We are compelled to kick lazy to the curb and plough ahead through the routine. And we are empowered to do it with joy.
As sisters, we must band together to lift each other up. We tell each other, “You can get that laundry under control”. “You can come up with creative ways to get your kids to finish their homework”. “You will be able to pull dinner together tonight”. “You will be full of joy and gratitude while you do it”. God isn’t kidding when He gives us Truth. He tells us to persevere. He tells us there is a prize. He is waiting to say to us, “Well done, my good and faithful servant”.
Mama, count your blessings. The saints of old endured torture for Christ. They had their property taken from them for being Christ-followers. They were sawed in two. They were stoned, burned, and maimed for Christ. Most of us? We have the challenge of mopping well. We have the testimony of neatly folded socks. We face the drudgery of the grocery store. I’ll take it any day of the week, sister. We are blessed to have these “hardships”. While you push your kids on the swing, when you change another diaper, and as you seek to speak lovingly to your husband, it may seem no big deal-but it’s no small victory. It matters. Your attitude about it matters. You, matter.
Please, take the time to sit down and rest your faithful feet. Make arrangements for help where you can. But, when you have good work to do that you know you can and should accomplish, don’t miss the opportunity to honor God in it. Push forward towards the high calling you have in Christ, and glorify Him with your desire to be excellent.
Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews 12:2-3, The Message
YOUR TURN!! Do you feel called when your life may seem routine? How do you honor God by the many aspects of your day-to-day life? If you were blessed by this post, please SHARE it with others! I love to hear from you!!
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