For all the Mamas

This one goes out to all the Mamas. 

You have mamas who hustle and grind each day just trying to get by. You have mamas that work outside the home out of preference and out of obligation. You have mamas our there who have found the balance required to keep the man, the kids, and the house all in order. And then, you have the rest of us who are simply striving to just make it through this...one...day.  To all of us I say, press on! Fight the good fight! And at the end of whatever craziness today held- peek in on those sleeping babies. Say YOUR prayers and thank the Lord for one more day of love, laughter, fingerprints, and chaos. In ten years we will wish we had fingerprints. We will wish we had just one more night of shouts of the beautiful chorus  "mommy I love you", for the 27th time since I tucked that sweet face into her bed. We will wish we had one more time of having them sit on our hip. One more time tying their shoes. The truth is, in the midst of all of the things we do, we forget that babies don't keep. Time marches on and they will soon be grown up and gone.

This season brought with it firsts and momentous milestones. Children started school for the first time. Some kids began middle and high school. Others ventured off to college and began a new chapter of life called adulthood. In our home, I have one who has been under my wing and in my Sunday school class since he was a little man. A few months ago he moved on to the youth group. Just yesterday he was in a smocked bubble with a pacifier clipped to his collar. Now, he's grown into a young man who loves and fears the Lord. He is committed to studying the Word of God, loving others more than himself, and letting others see Jesus in Him. Though still a child, he's becoming a man very quickly. God is so gracious to lend us a child such as this to raise up for Him. A tiny warrior is what we have always prayed over him to become. One day a leader in God's elect army he will be. Our not so tiny warrior announced his call to preach this year.

I was that mom in the parking lot on the first day of school who was on her knees sobbing....an ugly cry sisters! Ugly! I had prayed and prayed for the rapture to happen before his first day of school. Clearly, no rapture. I remember everything being in slow motion as this tiny creature we had loved and protected would stay with a stranger all day long for school. Would she know what to do? Would she know how we teach him to use his manners? What about lunch...would she help him with his food? All of the questions flooded my mind. The answer to all of these questions was very simple. No. No, she wouldn't. She would educate his mind and my job would remain to shepherd his heart.

In those early days of parenting I was impatient, fearful, tired, and not trying to live one day at a time. There were schedules for everything, except slowing down and enjoying what God placed in my care. Time has been a great teacher and friend for me. I'm not mom of the year, not yet. But I'm striving for it. I get closer daily as I strive to be the woman Titus 2 speaks about. I strive to make sure my family has what they need and that they are well cared for. Laundry to meal time, clean shoes to fresh sheets, and teaching them HOW to keep God's statutes and commands. This is my job and it has become my joy.  God is so kind. He's so patient and such a great teacher. 

Today as we think about how time has caused growth and change, let's also remember that God has a magnificent plan for these little people we are raising, shepherding. Their hearts must be taught to love God. From the moment of birth we are born selfish and with hearts that are against God. It's true! It's all part of the curse for the sin that Adam and Eve committed. My most important job, and yours as well is to make disciples of our children. That's right...not spoil them. Not be their friend. Not buy their time and attention. We are to make disciples of them. If we fail in this one task we fail in this life. Children are a gift from God. A gift that is intended to bring Him glory and honor, not shame and disgrace.

So, while the laundry sits and the cobwebs collect I would ask- what are we doing with time? Are we investing in our kiddos spiritually? Preparing them for battle? Teaching doctrine from the Word of God? Or, are we spending time trying to be their friend in hopes that they will always stay close and never go away? That method and mentality are flawed. They will come back for sound advice if they see us guiding them in the paths of righteousness. They will come back out of love, honor, and respect for a Christian mother. They will stay close to the teachings of their mamas.

So I close with this...

What are you teaching your children? What Biblical principles are you living out loud for them to see? What sacrifices are you making for Christ that they are witnessing? If you had to think hard on this one then you know you are falling short. If you answered quickly then I say keep on keeping on. Keep teaching, reproving, loving and helping these precious children who God has loaned you for a while. 

Babies don't keep.

Proverbs 3:5-6