The Spiritual Side of Mommy

"O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions- this great and wide sea, in which are innumerable teeming things, living things both small and great...these all wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season. What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good." Psalm 104:24, 25,27,28

I was talking to a friend of mine today about this job she and I have. It's called being a mommy. And most of the time we love it. But today, she was discouraged and teary, wondering how much impact she was having in her young children's lives. Before she was married and had kids, she was involved in several areas of ministry and spent a couple hours a day studying her Bible. Four kids later, she can barely find time to read her Bible.

I can relate.

The conversation turned to spiritual things pretty quickly because we realized that one of the biggest causes of discouragement in our lives is neglect of our relationship with the Lord. She admitted that she struggles with getting up early to spend time in the Word--of course! we all do!--and I found myself remembering when I first became a mom. For awhile there, I felt like I almost lost my spiritual side, as if me and this infant are all that really matters, and if I can just make it through this day.... not seeing the big picture at all. The Lord gave me this infant to raise into a man who will seek after God, and in order to do so, I have to be in the Word and praying for wisdom.

The responsibility of it all makes me want to hide underneath the covers. :)

But I've appreciated having this second son, because it seems like I'm starting to wake up a little spiritually in the process. Maybe it's just seeing the different stages my boys are in at the same time, that they do grow up quickly. Potty training, diapers, breastfeeding...that's not all there is. :) My children need to have a mommy who seeks after the Lord more than they need anything else. They need to see me reading the Word, and choosing to obey it, even when it's hard. They need to see me going to the Lord with my anxieties first, instead of complaining about them to everyone who will listen. They need to see me willing to serve the Lord in whatever way He asks, even when it costs me something.

Halfway through our conversation, my friend started to perk up. See, she knows the truth, that everything out of the Lord's hand is good. He's not asking her to be involved in those ministries she was involved in before she was married. He has something better in store for her now! Being a godly mommy to her boys. And for that to happen, she cannot neglect her relationship with the Lord. Bottom line. Children's hearts are not guided to the Lord by accident.

She knows it. And I'm glad we had this conversation, because I needed to be reminded of it too. Because my spiritual side is waking up.