This is actually a post I wrote last year for my previous blog, but I felt as if some moms needed to read this again.  Enjoy…

We recently had a baby shower for a woman in our Bible study a couple weeks ago. As you do at many baby showers, we all went around and gave a little piece of advice to the expecting mother. Now, I am fully aware that my oldest son is only 3 years old and I don’t have nearly as much wisdom as many other ladies in my Bible study who not only have children, but great-grandchildren—but, I have gained some pieces of advice that are noteworthy. Here is what I shared with her… you get the longer version because I can type freely and have no time constraints.

Being a mommy is Kingdom work. Isn’t it easy to forget that? When you are in the midst of changing poopy diapers, sweeping up Cheerios for the 17th time, rocking your baby who won’t stop crying and only wants your arms and realizing you haven’t taken a shower in a couple days… It’s Kingdom work, beloved, even if it doesn’t seem like it. It’s a divine calling from the Lord.

For me, this can be a struggle, especially since my husband is a youth pastor. I get to hear amazing stories from him about students falling madly in love with the Lord, parents coming back to church as a result, and how hearts and lives are being changed—and praise the Lord for that! But then the question will come, “How was your day? What did you guys do?” And some days, I don’t even have an answer… Well, I haven’t stopped moving all day, but I got none of the chores done that I started. The laundry is not in closets and dressers, but still in the washer, dryer and on the couch waiting to be folded, I started scrubbing the bathrooms during the kid’s nap, but had to stop half-way through cleaning the toilet because someone woke up early, and dinner is still a work in progress. I have no idea what I did today, but I am exhausted!… That just doesn’t sound nearly as glamorous! Truth is, it may not be nearly as glamorous, but it is every bit as glorious. We are called to do this work called motherhood as if we are working for the Lord, because that is Who we are living for.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV). This is a verse I tell myself often, and some days I am great at applying this verse, and other days sadly, I am not. That is when usually my husband lovingly reminds me my focus is not on point, and the faster I can redirect my eyes to the Lord, the better.

So, for all your mamas out there who just need a little encouragement today, may I remind you that you are doing Kingdom work. Love on your children so they can see the love of Christ, raise them to fear and know Him, surround them with songs that praise Him, and cover them with prayer that they may come to fall madly in love with our amazing Father. Give yourself grace (something I also have to tell myself often) and remember you are not alone in the messy and glorious adventure we call motherhood.