The Ministry of Motherhood

Mothering is something I often think about, which makes sense since 5 young people call me "Mom", but this week I find myself thinking about it a bit more. Mother's Day often leads me to reflect as does the end of another school year. Today Facebook reminded me of a post I shared 2 years ago about mothering being a ministry and it was a reminder I needed. God's Word truly is alive and it is useful for teaching...may His Words here encourage and remind us all of important Truths no matter where we are in our mothering. With that my post from 2014 - 

As a young adult I never pictured myself as a stay-at-home Mom and even 11 years ago when my first son was born I didn't know if that was a "job" for me. Rather than turning in my resignation I asked for a year's leave of absence...this delayed the decision, but eventually I submitted to God's plan and am now home with 5 little people who are quickly growing up.

I no longer struggle with the "What do you do?" question like I use to, but most days the role I do play is hard. More than once I've told my husband, "100 junior high kids were easier than this!!" And I'm not kidding!! Being a Mom, whether you stay at home or work outside, is hard. 

There's the daily work it requires, the stress, the noise,the questions, the being needed ALL the time...the list doesn't end and then it starts all over tomorrow. But fried, let me remind you (and me) that motherhood isn't about the work or the title, it really is a ministry.

One of my favorite Bible verses is 2 Timothy 4:5, "But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry." Years ago, God used these words to speak to my heart as He called me to write and led me into women's ministry, but lately He's been using them to talk to me about my role as Mom. 

What better advice could you give to a Mom?

Keep your head in all situations. Oh and there are situations aren't there?!?! Times of trial, fighting, frustration, worry and fear - motherhood has it all! Daily Moms are tempted to lose it, feel guilty or angry, unappreciated and underpaid, but whatever the situation we must keep our heads. Other versions refer to this as being self-controlled, keeping a clear mind and being sober. As a Mom, pray about this and try to do it!

Endure hardship. Again hardship comes with the job...motherhood is a blessing, but it includes challenges and work. There can be big struggles and daily little ones...both can cause you to want to quit or leave you thinking you're not enough. But in God's Word we're reminded trials will come and here Paul instructs us to endure them. Mom, when trials come don't avoid them, run from them or through them, endure them. 

Do the work of an evangelist. What does an evangelist do? Tell people about Jesus and as a Mom that is the most important thing we can do for our children. Remember friend, we tell them much more with our actions than our words! So read them the Bible stories, but live out your faith. Allow them to see you reading your Bible, let them read your prayer journal, ask them for forgiveness and share Christ's love!

Discharge all the duties of your ministry. Do the work, all of it. As Moms, we must persevere and be diligent. The job never really ends and if we're going to do it well we must continually be in touch with our Heavenly Father who will equip us for the task He's called us. Abide with Him with my friend!

I pray you are encouraged in your role as Mom today!! It is a privilege and truly a high calling, but friend let us remember it is a responsibility as well...may we not take it lightly or for granted! Mom, your ministry matters!!

Dear Heavenly Father, Lord thank you for creating me to be a wife and a mom. Help me see these roles the way you do...ones of eternal importance. I ask for your help in keeping a clear mind...help me stay calm in moments of frustration, focused in times of stressed and prayerful in all situations. Lord, hard days will come, difficult situations are a part of life and trying moments are daily present help me endure them all. And Father I pray for myself as an evangelist, help me live out my faith in my home, draw me closer to Yourself and help me share You, starting with those who are in my home. Lord, you have given me work to do, my ministry, help me do what You created me to do. In Jesus' Name, Amen

A few closing thoughts from today...as I look at the picture above, I'm reminded my kids are growing up. The baby days I thought would never end are over. Diapers.com no longer is my most visited site...we're nearing the stage when we spend more time chasing our kids across the county for various activities than we do chasing them across the farm. I'm one who needs the reminder to enjoy the moment...these days won't last forever. The work God calls me to do, I need to do it now. And I must not forget the work isn't always what I think...God's work is sometimes stepping away from my to-do list to read that same book again and again, others it's to walk outside and help my teenager with his pigs. 

And more than that I've been reminded motherhood truly is a ministry and it's not one with a guaranteed timeline either. We often walk out of the hospital with our new little one and think: I have 18 years to prepare them for life. I, like every Mom, prays that is the case and I too look forward to watching my kids grow up and become parents themselves. But, the last couple of years have shown me that's not always the case...like mine, my kids days are numbered and I must remember as I strive to prepare them for their future, I'm also called to help them prepare for their eternal home. 

Friend, the stark reality of that statement brings tears to my eyes and I'd rather not think about it, but it's on my heart, so perhaps it's something we need to think about. Today will you join me in mothering with this in mind? May we be diligent with our time and treasure the ones we love! This calling is hard, times can be crazy and moments can be overwhelming in ways that are good and bad, but through it all remember we have a perfect parent, our Heavenly Father, who walks with us, equips us and has a perfect plan!! Daily our children are becoming more independent of us...may we become more dependent on HIM!!