I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "Being a mom is the most important job you will ever have." While there are valid points to that statement, sometimes I have a hard time hearing it, and I could never quite figure out why until I read this:
My husband and I have often talked about our burning need to be a apart of something bigger than our mundane existence. I have two small boys, and one could well argue that raising them is the most important job I will ever have. Yet, I am worn out with the tedious nature of it all - feeding, bathing, diapering, potty training, disciplining, supporting and answer an infinite number of unanswerable questions. These things fill my day and mentally wear me out, and the idea that perseverance for the next eighteen years will hopefully result in respectable young men who contribute to society is not enough to sustain me right now. I need an even greater purpose to keep my joyfully steadfast for the long haul.
In this passage, (Ephesians 1:3-14) Paul gives us a deep spiritual truth - he calls us to understand God's purposes and plans from before creation. As fleeting as this life is, we can all marvel at something timeless and eternal. Our place in God's story was planned before time began. He chose us! He chose us for himself to accomplish his purposes and to reveal to the entire world something beautiful about himself. When I think of God setting his purposes in motion before time began and those purposes including me, then I start to tap into something that sustains me. I am not raising my boys simply to be responsible citizens when they turn eighteen and leave my house. I am raising them in light of God's eternal kingdom purpose for both them and me. The tedious aspects of my daily life fade as I get a vision for God's eternal plan playing out in my home. There is something going on here that transcends time and therefore gives meaning to this day, this week, this month, this year and this lifetime.This is a snippet taken from the book we are studying, By His Wounds You Are Healed. If I could copy and paste the whole book, I would. There is so much wisdom and life application packed in it. After reading this snippet of one her chapters I felt relief. There is the answer to the uncertainty I felt when someone would make "most important job" statement. Yes, I love being a mother but no, this is not my sole purpose...this is not where I find my identity! I've known that being a mom is a role that God has given me but that knowledge is not enough to sustain me through the 3 am wakeup's or the 45 minutes spent rocking him. These two paragraphs really gave me a shift in perspective and since reading it, has helped me get through MY mundane day to day activities. I hope it brings you mom's out there some peace and encouragement as well.
