Just before this lockdown started, I found myself in an extremely challenging time with regards to my calling to motherhood. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows, but I really hope this encourages you and gets you through those times where you feel defeated!
These last four months have been the most difficult but the most rewarding months I’ve experienced yet. Most of the time my house is a mess, the floors are dirty, I am consistently tripping over toys, food is squashed onto the couch, there is a massive pile of dirty dishes and the laundry is staring at me. I am tired due to lack of sleep and ironically, I find myself permanently hungry yet constantly trying to feed two little mouths… and the list goes on. If you’re a mother of little children, or have been, I am sure you can relate. Especially in our current times, with a global pandemic keeping us to the restraints of our homes with no way to get out a bit.
I have been on maternity leave and have been looking after my two sons who are now 2.5 years and 4 months old. Time is certainly a thief as these four months have flown by. Yet, simultaneously, the days seemed like they would never end… You know what I mean? In the hard moments of tears, tantrums and sleeplessness, it feels never ending. But I know that these are the days that I will miss… chaotic but I’ll miss them. These are the days that my heart will ache for because when my children are grown up, I will miss them being around all the time. The hugs and kisses and sweetness that oozes out of them makes me certain that it’s all worth it.
These are also the times my husband and I will fondly look back on as our boys grow up. As they start their own lives and our home is quiet, our nest empty. We’ll remember the chaos of maternity leave and a three week (potentially longer) lockdown.
Our gift of discipleship
What’s even more rewarding is knowing that God has given me this opportunity of motherhood to disciple them. As mothers, we make visible and invisible sacrifices for our children. God placed within us a fierce, deep, unconditional love for our children. But oh what JOY we get out of the relationship. It makes me think about how much Christ loves me and the magnitude of his love for all people – those that have lived, are living and those still to be born… It’s incredible to think of love at that magnitude. God doesn’t feel like running away when he sees the chaos of my life. Instead He pursues me and died for me – the greatest sacrifice of all time. He set me free from the “chaos.” And He did that for everyone. Wow! Again, going back to the magnitude of Jesus’ love.
The sacrifice that Jesus made for you and I far exceeds that of a mother’s, but it’s certainly a reflection of it in a big way. I thank God for showing me his heart in the way that I love my children. They bring me great joy and as I write this, I want you to know that you bring God great joy as His child, so much so that He gave up his life for you!
Friends, I want to encourage you to use this time to disciple your children. To sow deeply into their lives with the way you love them, by blessing the time you spend with them and when you get frustrated, by reminding yourself of God’s great love and patience for us. Motherhood isn’t easy, but it sure is rewarding and it’s something I will cherish for the rest of my life as I watch my boys grow up into strong men in Christ.
If you would like some prayer or someone to chat to, let us know. Otherwise, please read some more great content on JOY and HOPE to lift your spirits in our current season!
