I love being a mom. I love my children. I love being able to stay at home with my children. I love my job of being a mom.
Yet, truth be told, there are many days where I struggle with embracing and loving my job as MOM. It has nothing to do with loving my children, it is the mundane extra duties that come along with the job title MOM.
I was reading an excerpt in Max Lucado’s newest book, Max on Life, where he answers a question that I could have written myself!
More than anything in the world, I want to be a good mom to my kids. How can I be the mom God wants me to be?
Lucado’s answer gives me depth and insight into God’s own heart. He shares that children aren’t randomly born to parents. God orchestrates the right children to be born to the right parents.
Being the mom God wants me to be starts with the understanding of how important my job is in God’s eyes. He entrusts me with one of his own children. He chose me out of all the moms in the world for my three adventurous full of energy boys!
I need to remember that I am highly favored by God and that he personally chose ME to receive the special gift of the job called MoM.
I have really been chewing on this bit of information the past few weeks. When I think of JOB and MOM, I shudder to think of what my evaluation report would look like.
Mom spends majority of her day on the phone or on the computer.
Mom communicates by yelling instead of soft words.
Mom gets frazzled easily and has little to no structure to her day.
Mom’s words and actions do not always align.
I am ashamed to admit that I have not fully embraced my job of mom as God intended; but more as a daily part of life. When I stop to think and really put into perspective what this job entails it can be overwhelming. I must treat this precious gift, Mom, as such and treat it as such.
I will be making a few slight changes to my routine… making it more job-like.
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I will start off my day organized, calm, and hopefully before the boys wake.
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I will make it a point to spend more time in God’s Word – first thing each morning.
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I must remember to spend special time with my children – housework and other responsibilities can wait.
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I will actually get dressed (face and all) for the day – be presentable for my children, husband, and any other people I encounter throughout the day.
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I will do my best to stick to the daily schedule and the tasks at hand.
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I will continue to make time for me in my job as that is also a priority.
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I choose to participate in activities that are in accordance to my family’s values and job description.
Will I have time for blogging, facebook, twitter, other… Yes.
However, I am going to make it a point NOT to spend the majority of my day with my back turned to my family… instead eye contact, quality time as well as QUANTITY time with my family will be my main focus.
I choose to EMBRACE and LOVE my job as a stay-at-home Mom.
Is there anything in your life where you are choosing to embrace and love? How do you view motherhood?
Harmony says
Oh So needed this today!! It seems that God is sending me messages in all directions about this topic of the importance of being a MOM. What a way to think of it. Thanks again, and prayers with you on your journey!!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun says
This is exactly what I needed to read lately! I’ve been wanting to give more as a mom and being the mom God created me to be, but haven’t thought of how that all plays out. I love what you wrote about it being an honor God gave us and we have to treat it with the same motivation and respect that we would a job. It’s the most important one out there.
Kim K. says
All I have to say is AMEN!!!!
Tracy says
My words exactly! It’s a crazy “Mom” world, out there and some days are nuttier then others 🙂 !! Keep the motivation coming and our faith will lead the way. A great post and Yes AMEN! ~ Take Care
Kristen says
Rachel, this is super. I am right there with you.
You might find encouragement from this post, too. I know I sure did. http://thegrownupgirlscout.blogspot.com/2011/02/temporary-vs-eternal.html
Kristen says
Or this one! 🙂
http://thegrownupgirlscout.blogspot.com/2011/03/if-mama-aint-happy.html
~K~ says
wow, what a perfect post for me to read today! After ANOTHER morning of being an impatient mom, I was already trying to lecture myself earlier today about being as firm, yet loving as my kid’s teacher seems instead of being, well, me. Your job evaluation sounds exactly like what i would write for myself. Ugh. Gonna try to do better. Thanks for all the words of wisdom! (and for me, it’s facebk and blog-reading that i’m gonna try to put off until after the kids’ bedtime so we get more QUALITY time….they are actually happily playing together right now or i wouldn’t be on here…or would i?! Eek!)
feener says
i have been feeling very guilty about being a stay at home mom ? i feel like i should be working and creating money and on the verge of a nervous breakdown simply b/c of society ???? how silly ??
i pray for the ability to just enjoy my life and make sure i give my kids alll the love they need.
Tara says
great post! I really want to read this book!
I am struggling with infertility at this time… and i pray God has chosen me to be a mother of some of His children.
Janice - The Fitness Cheerleader says
Great post! I need to learn to embrace (and love) rainy days – the rain feeds the flowers right? Today we played soccer in the rain!
Michelle says
Like others who commented, this is what I needed to hear today!! I LOVE being a SAHM, but it is HARD! I love the changes that you are making and plan to do some of the same things. Thanks!
Rachel says
So, I am sitting in a hospital bed, eating hospital food and drinking hospital coffee (shudders) … And nearly overwhelmed at the thought of going home today as the (new) mother of three children.
Soooooooo glad this post showed up today on Facebook. I wasn’t half way through reading it when the tears began to fall… And, no, I don’t think it is just a matter of post-baby tears dripping over here.
I have been so caught up in worry and fear lately over the prospect of three kids… One of whom is a newborn. I have not felt adequate for the task and haven’t (for quite some time) felt like a good mommy for TWO kids, let alone three.
Thank you SO MUCH for the reminder that God doesn’t make mistakes, “oopsies,” or randomness in our lives. There are reasons, most of which I can’t see right now, why He (1) decided to make me a mommy, (2) chose to make me a mommy of these PARTICULAR children, and (3) gave me the task of mothering three kidlets.
He isn’t a God of chance …. And it isn’t an accident that I find myself at this point in life — about to head home with a third child. My role as a mother was planned. I was chosen for these children.
You have no idea how comforting this reminder is today. How much I needed to remember/realize this TODAY.
I can do this. This is what I was called to do, and God has equipped (will continue to equip) me for it.
Julie M says
I am glad this popped up today even if it is an older post. Just what I needed to be reminded of too. My kids have been telling me too much lately that I am on the computer to much. 🙁 I need to change that and change my priorities. What a great way to remember what is important. God is our boss as our Job as MOM, and we need to be sure we are doing what pleases the boss. 🙂 I love it! Thanks girl!
Have a blessed day at work. 😉