Busting a Common Myth of Motherhood
Filling the sippy cup again. And again.
Or maybe it’s another diaper.
Or more homework.
Or a pile of dishes. A pile of laundry.
An event to drive to and attend.
Lunches to pack, snacks to serve up.
Any mother can tell you we have the best job in the world. We do!
But it is a never ending, always clocked in kind of life. And we wouldn’t have it any other way, would we?
We get to experience so much. More than you could have ever imagined before becoming a mother. And you can’t really understand until you are doing it.
But what I didn’t know was that I would be doing a lot of the same things over and over and over.
It’s like that Groundhog Day movie for me. My tasks are pretty much the same. I get up the same time, prepare in the same way, make a lot of the same meals. Have a system down.
And it really can feel so routine.
It can almost feel mundane.
It can almost feel like to me that it doesn’t matter.
It feels like I’m just filling up a cup of water for my child.
I’m just wiping a face.
I’m just helping button a coat, find a shoe, make that snack.
But as I’m with my kids and doing all of these things, God has been really showing me that there is meaning in the mundane.
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in, naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I tell you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25:34-40
I know that our children are precious to the Lord. What a great honor and privilege that He has entrusted us to meet their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. It’s a pretty big task. Which can feel so huge at times.
But I do know and believe with all my heart that they are important to Him. They are a tool that our God can use in this great big world.
Have you ever heard of the poem, “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Is The Hand That Rules The World?”
It’s true my fellow mothers. We have here in our hands the future. These little people will become teenagers and adults. They may serve in mighty ways. They may serve in quiet and unseen ways. But the facts is, they can make a difference in our world. They can make a difference for Jesus.
So although our tasks might seem ‘little’ and maybe like they don’t seem like very much, oh my let us not believe the myth that what we are doing doesn’t matter. Because it does. A whole lot.
So how can we, as we scurry about and do our tasks to run our home and raise our children be more aware of this big calling we carry?
Here are five ideas…
Making the Mundane Meaningful:
1. The Power of Your TOUCH
My massage therapist has told me so many times the power of touch. She has even shared with me how beneficial touch is to our children. You can read about it here. She has encouraged me to have meaningful touch with my children. Some examples would be to rub their backs before bed, rub baby’s feet when you feed him, hug your children not just when saying good bye or good night, but during the day or evening when you think of it. It’s helped me to really stop what I am doing and realize above my tasks, I’m here to invest in my kiddos. And I have noticed a change when I focus on being intentional about lovingly touching them, even when disciplining them by holding their hands and looking into their eyes. Your touch matters, mama!
2. Speak LIFE
Often times throughout the day, I try to be aware of something my child is doing that I see as one of their strengths. Or if I see them do a task I have asked them to do and they are doing it well and working hard, I try to take time and really tell them what a great job they have done. I have also sat down with them and looked them straight in the eye and told them how much I love them and how I can see them doing great things when they grow up. I tell them the things I love about them and how much they mean to me. It only takes a minute. And to see a child’s listening face light up, you would have thought I just told them they could have a new toy. Their faces beam. I mean it my friends, they go from looking like their normal selves to being so full and bright with light. I truly think it affects the rest of our day and they feel affirmed and appreciated. And I really only speak true things to them. I never try to flatter them, but speak words of life and truth. And it can be really powerful.
3. Really LISTEN
I am the first to admit I get busy and they start talking and asking questions and I just say, “Yes. Ok. Sure. Uh huh.” Thankfully they aren’t asking to do anything crazy, but it’s just simple things they talk about. It’s easy for me to tune them out when I’m busy and they really get going about something that seems so simple to me. But to them, it’s their world. Whether it be a marble collection, their dirt mound they have been constructing, the 55th drawing of a football helmet or another ‘special’ rock that was found outside. It’s their world. And I know I can’t always be tuned in, but I sure am trying to be. And I think it matters when we as mothers listen to them. Really listen to the things that matter to them.
4. WORSHIP
Often as Christians, I think we think our relationship with God is really more about religion. Yes, I did just say that. Even though we think it’s about relationship, we make it religion so easily.
“I must read my Bible for X amount of minutes, X amount of times per week.”
“I must listen to this kind of worship music.”
“I must wear that. I shouldn’t wear this.”
I think if we get caught up in those things, we miss really great things. God isn’t about us reading a certain amount of verses to our children every day at the same time. And a lie I often fall into is that if I can’t do it how I set out to, I won’t do it at all.
I believe the best times come when we just carve in a verse here or there. Stop and sing together or pray when we are in the car, as we work together or as a need arises. It doesn’t have to be about religion, but about teaching them that Jesus is in every part of their lives, not just Sunday or Wednesday night or when we sit down and read the Bible together. He’s a part of everything, all the time if we allow Him to be. I know He would be honored if we invited Him into the simple and ‘mundane’ parts of our lives. I really think He would love it. And I think we would be changed as well as our children.
5. Work TOGETHER
There’s something to be said about many hands make light work. We aren’t the perfect family and my kids don’t always do what they are supposed to. But I do make it a point to involve them in work. I think it’s so beneficial for them to have a hand in the responsibilities of our household. Whether we do dishes together, vacuum, fold laundry, get groceries or pick up sticks in the yard, it makes the time go faster and is much more enjoyable. And I think they learn that they are needed. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t benefit from learning how to work. I think it’s good for us all to learn how to do it together.
So, as we go about our day and busy ourselves with all the necessary tasks of keeping and running a home and family, let us not forget.
What we are doing matters.
What we are investing in matters.
Like the farmer who sows the seeds faithfully. We too are sowing seeds.
Our words, they matter.
Our touch, it matters.
Our care, our love, our tone of voice, it all matters.
Making sacrifices and letting go of our immediate wants and desires to serve and give to our families, it may take some time to see the fruit.
But we will see fruit.
Let us keep at it. Knowing we don’t have to be perfect. We won’t always do it right.
But I think if we can be aware as we lovingly dig in the dirt, sow the seeds and pull the weeds, we can enjoy and embrace this wonderful season we are in. And glorify God as well.
Don’t let the mundane fool you.
Mama…
You matter.
Written by Jaimie.
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