When I was younger I was blessed with the opportunity to stay home with my children. Now when I say blessing I really mean it. We experienced infertility issues and then multiple, late pregnancy miscarriages so I really wanted to cherish every moment I had with my children. Don’t get me wrong I wasn’t the perfect mother, but off course who is. I did lots of things wrong, but I did do lots of things right. I know too, that rearing children is exhausting but the rewards so out weigh the exhaustion.
Mom’s Panic Attack
I look back on my mothering skills and sometimes have a chuckle. I was a tomboy growing up. Boys came to our door to see if I could come out and play ball. I only remember having maybe two dolls in my lifetime and to tell on myself, they still exist and are in my attic now. Go figure! I can remember one day, Katie asking me to come have a tea party. I thought I was going to have a panic attack…tea party! What? I finally told her, “Sweetie, Mommie doesn’t know how to have a tea party.” And without missing a beat she said, “I’ll teach you Mommie.” Oh dear! I did and it was fun, but boy was I happy when she told me she wanted to play t-ball and then basketball and then softball.
There Are Things More Important than a Clean House
I was also a clean freak. I vacuumed a lot, made sure everything was in its place. I thought a clean house made me a good wife, but I quickly realized that what was more important was the time I spent with my children. We read books all the time. Potty training included sitting and reading the pile of books on the tub, bedtime was multiple books that they chose. We went to parks, climbed trees, swam, fed ducks and even got chased by a very large and fast goose. I have such good memories of sitting for hours watching sporting events, and band concerts and plays.
Our Children Are God’s Gifts to Us
I say all this to say to young parents. Your children are a gift! They are on loan to you from God. Nothing else you do is as important as your time at home with your children…no office, not even work at church can be as important as the teaching and encouraging and building up of your children. Your work at home with your children is KINGDOM work! You have children, you have been called to a special task. He created the design and you are to nurture. You help them to experience the love of God every time you meet their needs. You are more important to your children than anyone else they will ever meet. You teach them discipline and forgiveness. Even in the chaos of home life you show them how God’s grace is sufficient for all their needs. So turn off the TV’s, put down your cell phones, take a deep breath and relax in the lingering cries, the dirty clothes, the messes, the dirty dishes and go play with your babies. Teach them all about the love you have for them through the love that Jesus has shown you. Give them a million hugs and kisses a day. Tell them how much you love them. Shower them with praise. Reach for consistency, be firm and discipline them. One day you will look at them and remember the beautiful, chaotic, and fun-filled days of their youth and see standing before you beautiful, God fearing, hard working adults who are now rearing their own children. You can then say…whew…not bad!
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoings, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7)