« Tall Trees 'Round Me | Main | Please Don't Take My Sunshine Away »

January 22, 2008

This Is For You, For Me

To you, my friend, who is also a mom,

You are going to make it. I know it's hard, and overwhelming. I know there are days when it's everything you can do not to cringe when you hear "mo-om" yelled from across the house. I know there are days when you think you can't possibly change another dirty diaper, cut the crust off a sandwich, or wipe a runny nose, but YOU CAN.

You can, because you do. There's nobody else around, after all, and it's got to be done. You will find the reserves, you'll find the ability, because that's who you are and what you do. Not very comforting, is it? But God has not given you a job that you cannot fulfill, if you depend on Him. I know it's a lot- He knows it's a lot- but He promised. You can provide exactly what every little soul in your home needs for the day. Their physical needs, their spiritual ones- all the hugs and kisses and chocolate chip cookies to bake and books to be read-- it's all something you can do. He promises us that He won't give us more than we can bear- and yes, motherhood is at times, something to bear. It yields many rewards, and it's a wonderful blessing, but there's no denying, it's work. Sometimes that load is heavy, and that's okay. It's okay to struggle beneath it, to feel like there are days when you're just trying to soldier through the pain of it-- as long as you keep on, keep going, hold it together one more day, sunrise to sunset...

Sometimes survival is success.

But sometimes... those days, the hardest ones, are the days that God is giving you opportunities. Opportunities to work on that patience you've been praying for. Days to be compassionate, and forgiving-- days when He gives you moments to trust Him, to work out those verses on servanthood you've been reading in your Bible. He's giving you time to be more like Jesus, kind and longsuffering.

Take those opportunities.

Bite your tongue.
Soften your heart.
Gentle your hands.
Open your ears, and eyes.

Remember that God has given you this day, and the tools for it, and we should be glad and rejoice in it.

I pray for you, my friend, that what is a struggle today will be a joy tomorrow. I am proud of you, and I know that your children will rise up and call you blessed for this day's work. Be strong and encouraged, you are up to the task! You can do this, and do it well, and be better for it.

The work, well, it's temporary. The dirty diapers go away. The tying of shoelaces, the endless laundry, the forty-thousandth spilled cup... it's all a finite moment. But, the reward is eternal. Your labor will be seen for all eternity in the hearts of your children, in their obedience to Christ, in their joyful thanksgiving. You will share with them the inheritance of Jesus, infinitely. What greater reward is there for a mother than to see her children sanctified and joined with Christ in heaven?

Don't give up now. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us... for the finish line is bright, and nearer than we know. Angels and saints cheer us forward, and Jesus waits to welcome us home.

--WonderGirl

Spiritual Places | By WonderGirl | 10:30 AM

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://atlblogs.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/11991

Comments

Posted by: Bevely at January 22, 2008 4:36 PM

Posted by: Meghan at January 23, 2008 7:53 AM

Email "This Is For You, For Me" to a friend!