Motherhood is busy. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily tasks of feeding a baby, nap schedules, diaper changes, potty training, educating, sports, and navigating friendships. Even as my children get older, the task of motherhood still consumes most of my thoughts. In some ways my 8-year-old is far easier than she was at age 1, but in other ways she is far more time consuming.
With children, life stages speed by and you have to be really alert to make sure they learn what they need to at the proper age. It is easy for me to get consumed with this instead of remembering the big picture of what we are doing here, on this earth, in my town of Moscow, ID.
My calling…
We have spent most of this summer traveling and transitioning to a new house. We have seen many beautiful cities and spent time with many good friends. My 8-year-old asked me today why we live in Moscow. Why not Alabama or Tennessee or at the beach? She pointed out that there are schools and wonderful churches and friends and houses in all these places.
Her questions brought me back to the question I frequently have to remind myself to ask. Why am I here? Why did God put me in this place, in this time, with these people? Of course, I can’t answer the question of why, but I do know what He wants me to do here. He wants me to enjoy Him, to glorify Him, to testify about Him, to be holy like Him.
When I get consumed with the daily tasks of motherhood, I have to remind myself of my calling. I am called to serve Christ and to speak His love into everyday life. I am called to glorify Him and honor Him with my work. For now, I am called to glorify Him by making PBJ sandwiches and teaching small people to clean up after themselves. And, for now, I am called to do that in Idaho.
My children need these reminders.
When my daughter asked me our reasons for living in Idaho, I was reminded that she needed the same reminder I often do. She needed to be told that it doesn’t matter where we live or who we are with or what we are doing – we are Christians. We are called to be disciples of Christ. It doesn’t matter if she is in 3rd grade or in grad school, she is called to work for Christ.
She and I have the same essential calling, although we are doing different tasks each day. My foundational calling is not motherhood; that’s just what I do each day. My foundational calling is Christ. My daughter’s foundational calling is Christ, even if she does schoolwork each day.
Your calling is the same…
Wherever you are, whatever age, whatever city, whatever stage of life, we are all called to the same task: “do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve”.(Colossians 3:23-24 NASB)
Give thanks, enjoy Him in the work, and share the good news of Christ with whatever means you have. If you are a mother, remind your children that they have the same calling you do. Encourage them through difficult stages and growing pains by teaching them who they are and why they are here.