I remember the days when my kids were babies, and I thought the lack of sleep, the never ending diapers, and the constant care was hard. "When they get a little older, it will be easier" I told myself as I struggled through another sleepless night...
Well, now they're older. And it is still hard. Not only that, it's a different hard. I know I'm in the throws, but I'm pretty sure it is harder. Heavy on the -er.
Yes, I get more sleep and I only change diapers when I'm watching my niece or nephew, but I have kids looking life in the face and I'm feeling the pressure to make sure they're ready.
I'm realizing they're not mine forever.
And before they leave this house I want them to...
be kind
and wise
and respectful
and thinkers
and loving
and giving
to notice the unnoticed
and know who they are in Jesus.
I want them to be ready to...
lead a family
and hold a job
and manage money
and keep a house
and serve in a church
and help their neighbors
and be a spreader of the gospel
Folks, it's a tall order. And I don't have that many actual years left with some of my kids.
So, I'm feeling overwhelmed.
Daily I'm trying to help them build good habits, instill a good work ethic, talking them through crisis, praying for their concerns, teaching them life skills, (on top of school!) and watching as they sometimes fail and sometimes conquer.
And being a mom on top of all of it!
I was almost feeling like I needed a break from mommying. I'm just going to go ahead and admit it out loud. Some days I want to throw in the towel and just turn on the tv.
But the other day the gentle voice of the Lord reminded me, "And let us not grow weary in doing good. And let us not grow weary in doing good." I knew it had to be from the Lord because it is straight out of His Book.
For several days this played over and over in my head, "Don't grow weary in doing good, don't grow weary in doing good."
As I thought on this Scripture I realized that this is exactly what we as moms are doing. We are doing good. Every day that you are investing time, energy, money, and everything you are into those little (and big) ones that live in your house, you, my friend, are doing good. And even though it is, oh so wearying we're not to grow weary!
This was a little bit of fresh air for me, but the sweet winds of relief came several days later when I remembered the last part of the verse -
".....for in due season we will reap if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9b)
Some days I want to give up. Some days it feels like everything I am doing is in vain. Some days when I look at my kids I think, "Do they hear anything I'm saying? Have they learned anything from me??"
BUT, the truth is - due season is coming. And it's coming faster than we want, or expect.
The principle of sowing and reaping is as true today as it was from the beginning of time. We reap what we sow.
BUT, only if we DO NOT GIVE UP!
In the middle of this post I had to stop writing to play a game with two kids, instruct a kid in writing a paper on the importance of kindness (and listen to and correct said paper), talk to another kid about the importance of more than once daily brushing your teeth, (He says there's really no need), calm the child who lost the said game, snuggle with the kid who feels like he might puke, kiss everyone good night, and put kids to bed. All this took place in the space of about an hour. Now I'm back here sitting and writing, and thinking it's really nice to sit!
One day, sweet momma, one day we will reap all these countless hours of poured out energy and self that we are sowing now. One day these kids are going to grow up - they're going to start adult life, and we're going to see the things that we put into them blossoming into beautiful.
But only if we don't give up. Only if we don't grow weary in doing good.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
