Motherhood.
How many of us, growing up, dreamed of being a mother and we saw these picture perfect lives depicted on advertisements and products for babies? We'd see this serene mother, hair brushed, makeup on point and perfectly clean clothes on, sitting, rocking a beautiful, sleeping baby in a perfectly clean house, decorated like it came out of a book. Those things set high expectations of what motherhood is all about, when in all reality, it's not all that at all. It's better. And worse...come on, we have to be honest!!
As a mother to four small children, ages 5, 3 1/2, 2 and one as new as a shiny penny, I find motherhood to be challenging. It's not all fun and games, like I wish it could be.
My day goes like this:
"Mommy, I'm hungry. Mommy. Mommy. Mommmmmmyyyyyy. I'm hungry. I want cereal. I want this cereal. No, I don't like that cereal." We then dialogue about how important it is to eat what is put in front of us and be thankful for it because of all the children around the world that don't have anything to eat for breakfast.
Then my 2 year old daughter who is potty training right now proceeds to take her night time diaper off, (yes it's dirty) and starts wiping herself with her hand. Screech! "No Sophie, don't do that! Wait for mommy to help you with your big girl panties!" She says, "But whyyyyyyy?" Her favorite word is, "why." Sometimes I feel like if I hear the word, "why" one more time, I'll gain another gray hair to add to the many that grace my head already.
Then the sibling "fights" and arguments begin. Each kid wants the same truck. Each kid wants the same color spoon or fork. Each kid has to have what the other has and each kid seems to forget what sharing means. So we discuss how to share...again. We discuss what Jesus wants us to do and how to be sweet and loving. I'm pretty sure my kids have memories the size of peas, because I'm pretty sure five minutes later we have to have the same discussion again!
Then the dramatics begin of things like my 3 1/2 year old daughter finding the scissors and cutting her long, beautiful hair into something that looks like chopped confetti. Oh heaven help me!
All the while, I'm still trying to juggle cleaning the house, doing loads and loads of dirty laundry (don't forget I have two girls and a boy that like playing "dress up" and often times things end up in the dirty clothes pile because they tried it on for 5 minutes and now it's "dirty." *insert eye roll and a grrrrr in frustration*) cooking, nursing and everything else a wife/mother does. Sometimes I wonder if I can fit in a shower, reading time and of course, quality time with each my children and my husband.
All of that to say, motherhood isn't all serenity and beauty. It's full of lots of daily challenges.
But what helps our hearts be serene during all the chaos of daily life? Time with Jesus. Reading the Bible. And being consistent with making sure we make time for Him. So often, I find myself getting swept up in the daily challenges and half the day is gone before I realize how chaotic my heart feels and how chaotic my household is. I have to put a pause on it all, sit down, pray, read the Bible and have some worship time. God doesn't want a forced relationship with us. He wants us to come to Him, make time for Him and want Him in our lives. Motherhood is so full of questions, worries, concerns, drama from our kids and overwhelming experiences. The only thing that can carry us through is God. Besides, our children are watching us closely and are following our example. Do we want to be the "just on Sunday" Christians? Or will we show them how being a Christian is living a daily life devoted to God and making Him a priority, no matter what life throws our way? Will He just be our fair weather friend, or will He be our friend through the storms too?
As a mother, I want my life to be a living example of what a true Christian is. I want my life to be devoted on a daily basis, no matter how crazy or chaotic life can get. If our hearts are in line with God and His word, then our lives will be lined up as well. While the outside may look like the crazy zone, the inside will be at peace and the attitude we exude will be one of love, joy, peace and patience. It will exude kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. (Gal. 5:22)
Luke 1:46-48 says, "And Mary said: 'My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed."
Mary glorified God in all she did. She rejoiced in Him. I think the point of this part of this scripture is showing how she made Him a priority over all her circumstances. It didn't matter what was going on in her life; she put Him first, thus the Lord kept her close and lifted her up during a difficult time. I don't think the "lifting up" part has to do with putting a person in a high place of honor, or anything like that. I think the lifting up could be anything from giving a person courage to make it through a tough day to getting healed from sickness, to giving them energy to work, to anything else.
As mothers, finding time to put God first is imperative. So here's to all the mothers with chaotic lives and to us finding serenity in our hearts by spending time with our wonderful, awesome God!
