I've wanted to write so many times in the past several months and simply haven't made the time to sit down and do it. This title has been running through my head quite often -- as I daily struggle with my own selfishness and simultaneously attempt to keep up with my two boys -- I realize over and over (because I am continually forgetting) just how selfish I really am, and just how hard God is trying to root that out of me.
I never realized how self-centered I was until I became a mother, and especially a mother of two. Now there is even less time for me to do the things "I want to do" -- sleep, read, scrapbook, write, etc -- but what I know in my heart is that I am finally doing the things that I've been PURPOSED to do -- raise the children that God has given to me "as a gift from His hand." So my heart is joyful -- but the sin nature that resides within me is resistant to the changes. How thankful I am that God will never give up on me.
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)
I never realized how self-centered I was until I became a mother, and especially a mother of two. Now there is even less time for me to do the things "I want to do" -- sleep, read, scrapbook, write, etc -- but what I know in my heart is that I am finally doing the things that I've been PURPOSED to do -- raise the children that God has given to me "as a gift from His hand." So my heart is joyful -- but the sin nature that resides within me is resistant to the changes. How thankful I am that God will never give up on me.
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)
Another verse that I have written out and taped to my bathroom mirror is Romans 12:1:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."
When I think of how God never will give up on me, and in doing so, how much He "puts up" with me and my childish selfishness ("...in view of God's mercy...") -- it motivates, energizes, and fills me with the love I need in order to continue to care for my 2 young sons. He enables me to put aside my fatigue and my wants ("to offer your bodies as living sacrifices"). I can get through yet another poopy diaper, another frustrating and messy feeding to a picky 11-month-old, an umpteenth viewing of the same Thomas the Train movie...and not only does He give me the strength and the grace to "get through it" -- sometimes I actually enjoy it!! How can I "enjoy" another poopy diaper? Because "this is [my] spiritual act of worship". This is how God is calling me to serve Him today -- and what a privilege it is!!
Yes I'm exhausted...yes I would like to use the bathroom alone for once, or be able to apply make-up without having eyeliner pencils scattered all over the bathroom, or eat without having to inhale my food...but someday I'll have all the time in the world to do those things, and then I'll miss my boys and wish that they were there with me again. And hopefully I can serve them (and ultimately, my Lord) in such a way that will be a blessing to them, and I'll have been "holy and pleasing to God."
1 comment:
There is something to be said for being the mom of boys...so much energy in those little guys. Love this post!
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