Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Finding a mom's purpose.

So many times I allow Satan to bring me down by insulting my choice of staying at home. I hear many questions asking," don't you want more? what are you going to be"? These questions do nothing but discourage me which I know is exactly Satan's purpose. I really do find joy in my children and staying at home with them and I don't want to have an attitude of this being temporary. God has blessed my family with the financial ability for me to stay home. I want to use that blessing for his glory. A blog that I read so touched me today. It says exactly what I've been feeling.....



The funny thing is, I do not remember ever specifically aspiring to my current occupation: motherhood. I guess maybe I always assumed I would be a mom and never really thought about balancing motherhood with whatever my current career aspiration happened to be.

The transition from diaper bag to backpack and lunch box really caught me off guard. I'm a smart girl, I knew with each birthday my boys were getting older; it was my transition that surprised me.I once knew what I did: I changed diapers and filled juice cups and pushed strollers. For years. One baby boy after another. And now?That transition plunged me into what has been at times an almost frantic search for purpose and validation. I bought the lie of our culture that we must accomplish to be significant. I knew God called me to be home, even now with the boys in school, but I couldn't shake the feeling I was supposed to be doing something, some accomplishment, some more worthwhile endeavor, something I could tell people I "did with myself all day now that the kids are in school." Somehow, laundry wasn't enough!

Our faithful God has taught me the value of an ordinary life lived for His purposes and His glory. The privilege of serving Him in the simple tasks of laundry and grocery shopping and shuttling kids all over town. The holy responsibility of raising a generation of godly young men. The call to say Yes wherever He leads, whatever He asks. The freedom of living in the today of my journey, and knowing He holds the tomorrow

10 comments:

Deborah said...

Thank you for blessing me with this today.

jenny biz said...

That is a great post!! I too have been struggling with this. I love the phrase "holy responsibility".

Stephanie said...

It's wonderful when God blesses us with the opportunity to be stay-at-home moms...but we should be open minded to the idea of when He wants us to return to work.

I had a girl in one of my Bible studies that went through this. She LOVED being a stay-at-home mom but she got a wonderful job opportunity. After much prayer and consideration, she took the job. Maybe an employee or employer needed a Christian role model around. We do need lots of it in the work place!

Elizabeth said...

This is great, Melanie. Thanks for sharing.

Amy said...

Melanie, I have some things I want to share with you but I'm not sure if I have your current email. Send me a message to toombstown@gmail.com
Your transparency will bless many, thanks for sharing your life with us!

Amber Smith said...

Melanie-
Thanks for sharing. I so appreciated your message and also LOVED those articles that were linked from Lifesong.

There is SO much that we can accomplish in keeping our homes, being helpers to our husbands, and the caretakers of our family. I'm with you, Satan can discourage us, but spending that time with our precious children and caring for our homes is so incredibly important! The day to day instruction of our little ones, shaping their hearts and souls for eternity. What a responsibility!! What job could be more important than that?

Danna said...

Melanie
Thank you so much for sharing your heart. You mean so much to me and believe me, you have the most important job that God can give you. God trusts us enough to give us children to raise them in His light and in His glory. This is the most influencial job you will ever have. I am so proud of you for teaching, instructing, and loving your children enough to raise them in a Godly home and teaching them that God will always take care of us if we put our trust in Him. You will have plenty of time to work outside of the home, however your children are growing up right now. You are a wonderful mom and a loving child of God. I love you!!!!

Liz Moore said...

Melanie,

Being at home with your children is one of the greatest jobs and blessings you can ever have. I know that it's not for everyone, but if you have the desire and ability to do so, there is nothing in your life that will bless you more. I also believe beyond a shadow of a doubt your children are also being blessed. Even though my children are almost grown now, and I work 2 days a week at the dayschool, I still feel blessed to be called a stay at home mom. Even at Jeremy's age there are times he needs me at school or for this or that during the day. I treasure these days.

There is the scripture in 1st Timothy 4 that says:
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

I believe you can insert stay at home mom in place of young in that scripture. Because there is no greater example to a child than that of a loving mother. May God continue to bless you as you serve Him so faithfully through your role of being a mom. I love you!

Rachel said...

What a wonderful post! Thank you for opening your heart and sharing!

Lisa Spence said...

Hi Melanie,

I'm so glad my post encouraged you. I was really surprised to see my words quoted--I still sometimes forget that people actually read what I write!

May we be found faithful in this holy calling of motherhood--to God's glory!

Blessings,
Lisa