Dear Mama –
As a mother it is easy to feel like we aren’t doing enough. There is this self imposed pressure to do more, to be more – to have something to show at the end of the day for all of our labor throughout the day. Something other than a big pile of laundry and another stack of dirty dishes.
As a Christ follower we want to honor Him – but, as mothers, what does the Lord require from us when it seems like we are limited in our freedoms and abilities?
I have been struck lately by the incredible world God created. The vastness. The detail. The diversity. Scriptures tell us He is the author of life, the creator of heaven and earth and if you believe this to be true then you also believe this: He is the author and creator of you.
Consider with me for a moment a brief glimpse that is painted for us in Psalm 104 about the story of creation ….
“(You) who stretch out the heavens like a curtain” {vs 2}
“He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the water… walks on the wings of the wind.” {vs 3}
“You who laid the foundations of the earth.” {vs 5}
“He sends the springs into the valleys; they flow among the hills.” {vs 10}
“He causes the grass to grow for the cattle.” {vs 14}
“He appointed the moon for seasons” {vs 19}
“You renew the face of the earth” {vs 30}
In reading this Psalm it is incredible to think on what He has created.
It leaves me with this deep realization that the Maker of heaven and earth is not impressed with anything I can do. He stretches out the heavens. He causes the grass to grow.
He created me and knows me.
My daily charge is not to do magnificent things that will awe and impress.
I can’t, in and of myself, do anything to impress Him.
And if I am living my life in light of His glorious light, I won’t be living for anyone other than Him which addresses the feelings of trying to prove myself to others, too.
But let’s get back to the Psalm. Verse 31 is beautiful :: “May the Lord rejoice in His works.”
He is rejoicing in His works.
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works …” {Ephesians 2:10}
How often do I bring joy to my Creator?
And how do I bring Him joy?
Weary mama, I submit to you that you can bring your Maker joy by being faithful through these hard days and these mundane tasks that are set before you as a mother.
The diapers, the dishes, the laundry, the dirty floors, the bloody knees, the disciplining, the story reading, the three meals a day … these things aren’t just there to check off a list so we can get to the more important things. These are the important things.
Not only are our children witnessing our attitudes towards that which is mundane, but our own character is being built – for good or for bad – through the attitudes we cultivate.
We are building something of enormous magnitude every moment of our day as mothers. Our character will either grow more like Christ if we submit to Him, or we will become more like the world if we chose to not submit.
We need to know that God, our loving Creator, has given us enough time in each day to accomplish the things that He wants us to do.
“And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” {Micah 6:8}
He is the creator of heaven and earth. He isn’t interested in what we can do to look pulled together and like check list masters, He is interested in us, and us becoming more like His precious Son that died for us. He wants our faithfulness and obedience in our weakness.
By being faithful with that which is set before us we can bring Him – our Creator! – joy.
