Life is full of mundane moments. As a mother, I feel as though most of my days revolve around the ordinary. Endless to-do-lists of cleaning, working, cooking, helping with homework, correcting, potty training, diaper changing, bath time, therapy appointments, and errands on repeat in my head. I have numerous times exclaimed to my husband, "All l ever do is clean up messes!" An exaggeration to be sure, but it feels like it's the truth on some days! Culture tells us that this is drudgery work. We just have to survive it and get to the other side to bigger and better things. Is this true? Is it just a distraction from the more “important" work for God? As mothers, should we view the everyday, ordinary moments as something that we have to just resign ourselves to, or is there purpose and joy to be found in this stage of life? Let's talk about it!
I. There is Purpose in the Mundane.
Purpose. This is a word that I often find myself thinking about in the mundane moments. What is the purpose to all of these small, insignificant acts in motherhood? How does changing diapers or reminding my kids to pick up after themselves multiple times a day really matter? It can feel like you are in a boat in the middle of the desert—there's just no purpose in it. No "high calling" to it. It's these times that we have to cling to the truth that if God has called us to it, it's not insignificant or without purpose. In fact, I would argue that it is the most essential, purposeful thing that we can do. The reality is that the hard, messy, and ordinary are opportunities to see God's grace in our lives more clearly. Exercising patience, love, mercy, grace, consistency, and forgiveness daily with those around us serves to highlight how that God has and is doing the same for us. He doesn't just show us these things, but he also gives us the strength to be able to show these same traits towards others, even when it is hard. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "But he said to me, "My.grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." The ordinary, grind-it-out kind of days are being used to shape us into the image of Christ and to showcase his strength in our weaknesses. Philippians 1:6 says, "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." God uses these day-to-day moments to sanctify us-to complete the work of the Gospel in our hearts. By his grace, he does not leave us where we are at, but he is continually working in us and for us. Sarah Mackenzie said in her book, "The God who turned water into wine can take our smallest efforts and weave them into a glorious tapestry for His delight." Everyday life has purpose. Being faithful in the seemingly little things that God has called us to has significance. Keep plodding forward with hearts and minds attuned to God and his Word!
2. Eternal Perspective
We have to keep an eternal perspective in motherhood. It is the ordinary, everyday moments that shape our children into who they are. It's the unrecognized and uncelebrated daily living out the Gospel that will have the most impact on our children's hearts and minds.Sure, God moving in big ways are an important for our kids to see. The big, visible works of God truly are amazing! However, our kids seeing their mother live faithfully in the day-to-day grind when no one is watching is just as important. In 2 Timothy, Paul makes a point to talk about the faith of Timothy's mother and grandmother-" I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure dwells in you as well." This shows the generational impact that faithfully living our lives for Christ in the day-to-day moments will impact the future of our children and our grandchildren. What a blessing! What an encouragement to my heart to know that allowing Christ to work in me as a mother will not be in vain if done in Christ! My children and my grandchildren will be effected by what I do now. It should also sober us to realize the heavy importance that these mundane moments have. The acts of service, the guidance, the love, the modeling and the conversations that we have daily with our children are significant. God has entrusted us with the soul care of our children, the people that we love most in this world. What is more important than intentionally pointing them to Christ daily? What is more glamorous, more worthy, more extraordinary than being able to have conversations daily that open our children's eyes to the gospel? The masses may not know my name. There may not be any stories written about me, but I pray that my children will be able to say that their mother was faithful in the small things by the grace of God. That I embodied the truth that we must cling to Christ rather than our own abilities. That living for Christ in whatever path he has us on is worth far more than anything that fame or ambition can offer. May God give me the strength and the grace to make it so.
Mothers, know that you have a God-given purpose in the ordinary, mundane days. Know that what you do and say has an eternal, generational impact in the lives of your children. Trust that God is faithful to give you strength in your weaknesses. He is using all of these collective moments to transform you and complete his work of righteousness in you. Remember 1 Corinthians 10:31, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." May we live our lives in such a way that we bring him glory in all things--big and small.
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