I got this from a friend, but I am so touched each time I read it that I wanted to share. It speaks so perfectly about my mommyhood and how God put me in the best place to honor and serve Him even when I'm doing the "dirty work"...I choose to honor God in my every minute. It is a choice to be a God honoring mommy...yes, mistakes will be made and God does forgive, but the choice is still yours every minute of your day. I have been CALLED to serve as a mommy of four and I am thankful for the opportunity God puts before me each day. Enjoy reading about my friend's mommyhood too...let it challenge your heart as it did mine.
"As I rush to fill three cereal bowls, I hear my tennis shoes sticking to the kitchen floor. Bending down, I see that hair is stuck to the spots where apple juice has been spilled. I pour the last of a bottle of cleaner into a bucket of water and open the garage door to dispose of the container, but the trash can is still at the curb. I wheel it in and open the lid. The smell almost knocks me over. Tipping it on edge, I begin washing out the mess with the hose. Behind me, my 2-year old escapes out the door and begins splashing barefoot in the 'ick' oozing down the driveway. I shriek in horror, which sends him trotting down the sidewalk. I say goodbye to all my pride and run after him in my half-drenched nightgown, tennis shoes and wild hair. As I lug my wailing child back home, I smile sweetly at a group of neighbors waiting for the bus. Back inside, my oldest daughter greets me with 'MOM, I need more toilet paper!' I grab a roll and head to the bathroom. When I open the door, I experience the second faint-inducing smell of the day. I see the cause of the TP shortage. She has used half a roll to soak up overflow from the toilet. I run for the plunger and return to find my 2-year old scrubbin the bowl with toothbrushes. Often 90 percent of my day as a stay-at-home mom is spent in this kind of interrupted, reactive frenzy. Though exhausting, my work as Mom can feel very insignificant. This year, as I outlined each of our family member's achievements and activities in our annual Christmas letter, I was frustrated that the only noteworthy thing I could think of to include about myself was that this year I started packing lunches the night before. It's discouraging to come to the end of a day and realize that each of the things I accomplished will need to be completed all over again tomorrow. I keep looking for an on ramp to the highway of significance where I can offer something really important with my life. But the roadblocks and detours of sticky floors and plugged toilets burn up all my energy before I ever spot one. At the end of the day, I wonder if these toilsome efforts will ever add up to anything of value. Like many women, I feel compelled to make a mark in the world. We want to know that our life's work will result in noteworthy accomplishments. The cognizance that we can make something of ourselves, if we choose to, propels us forward. Little girls are told, 'You might be the first woman President! Reach for your dreams!' But what happens when the grow up and become mothers? This sky-is-the-limit perspective can make staying home to raise babies seem rather bland and unsatisfying. I recently ran into a friend from high school and asked about her life. She sounded apologetic as she said 'I've been so busy with the kids that I haven't been able to pursue a lot. I was thinking I wanted more children, but I've decided my life has been on hold long enough. With my youngest starting preschool, I'm ready to finally do something for me.' My friend's telling words revealed her perception of the avenue leading to significance-the one leading away from her home. THE BIG PICTURE: So how should a stay-at-home mom respond to her pent-up aspiration to contribute something great with her life? Should she resign herself to endless stain removal and crumb sweeping? Does her position allow her to accomplish anything of value? According to God's standards for achievement, the last shall be first, and being great requires learning to be a servant of all. As the Father sifts our accomplishments, He assigns the most value to serving. This tells me that an office with mahogany furniture and a personal assistant in not the only setting for great accomplishments. In fact, caring for small children in the home provides incredible opportunity for advancement. Sticky messes and smelly garbage cans aren't detours and roadblocks; they are God's highway of significance. My daily planner may not contain anything that would impress a highly paid executive, but my work has great worth before the Lord. He says that the things I have done for the least of these I have done for Him. Sometimes I try to picture Him sitting on the kitchen stool waiting for a bagel, smiling as I sing a worship song on my knees beside my toddler's bed or sighing with contentment as I zip a cozy sleeper over my infant's full tummy and squeaky clean skin. Pleasing the Lord wouldn't be enhanced by bringing home a paycheck or having a title before my name. I have just as may opportunities to please Him within the four walls of my family room as I would in a corner office. As I wipe a little bottom, I have the same wherewithal to gain the Lord's favor as does a top marketing strategist for Pampers. Tying little shoes, reading picture books and making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches grant me just as much potential to hear 'Well done, good and faithful servant,' as I would if I performed brain surgery. The significance of dog hair, trash cans and toilets is this: They each give me an opportunity to serve my family and pursue a life of great value before the Lord. As I cast off the burden of being ranked among the most accomplished and pursue his approval instead, I see the road that lies before me-and it leads me home." - Shannon Popkin
So, what will you choose? Will you choose to look past what God has placed before you to seek a title before your name, a corner office, a paycheck? Or will you be satisfied in one of the best jobs God designed? Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." We have an opportunity as moms to help our children see God, write the words of scripture on their hearts and learn to respect and seek the Word for the answers to EVERYTHING and to love as Christ loved. WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY!!! Enjoy your mommyhood...it's a real blessing to do the "dirty work"...it's an honor to serve as a MOMMY!
