5 Days with God amid Ordinary MotherhoodSample

Day Two: Feeling Fully Known by God Over Our Laundry

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35

I have a laundry situation at my house, meaning there is too much of it. But somehow, an impossibility occurred this week, and I managed to get all caught up. Every single item of clothing was washed, dried, folded, and put away into drawers. I even prayed while folding socks! I felt VERY accomplished.

I ignored the reality that once the kids got home from school and changed from school uniforms into soccer and basketball uniforms and then out of those sports uniforms into pajamas, there would be at least another load of laundry waiting for me, but whatever! For a few hours, the laundry was done.

And then THIS happened. When my kids got home from school and came back down from changing clothes before we set out for soccer games and basketball practice, my teen said, “Thanks for doing all that laundry, Mom! That was a lot of work!”

Full stop.

I had to resist every urge to throw up my hands and declare, “My work here is done!” so as to go out on a high note, but soccer games and dinnertime and all the rest were waiting for me.

Moms, we work day and night doing for the people in this little family we created. Cooking and feeding and changing and bathing and diapering and cleaning and washing and folding and grocery shopping and driving and dropping and picking up. And behind the scenes, worrying and failing and trying again and praying and loving.

The demands of motherhood never end, and sometimes it feels completely unappreciated.

We wonder if they notice. We wonder if they even see us sometimes. We wonder if they KNOW just how much we love them. Does it even matter? Does anyone see?

Dear ones, it matters. They notice. And even more important, God sees every single way we give and love and serve. We are so intricately connected to these little beings, our babies, our loves.

Our children are grounded in a love that permeates every bit of their lives, forming deep, steady roots that leave them free to grow and live and learn and fail and try again. We are their soft place, their safe space. Ever-present just behind them…DOING and PRAYING and LOVING with our heavenly Father right by our side.

Our children just know. We are love. We are Mom. And God is with us every step of the way.

• As a mom, in what ways are you feeling unseen?
• How is your frustration affecting your marriage and family?

For the rest of the week, try to view your ordinary daily tasks as acts of service for your loved ones. Momma, YOU are the hands and feet of Jesus in your home.