Being A Mother Matters
My wife Stacey stared at me from across our kitchen island. I knew she expected me to say something in reply to what she had just unloaded. I prayed for the right words.
“I’m just a mom,” she’d said. “I really don’t have much to offer at this season of my life, Erik. All I do is clean, cook, and shuttle kids from one activity to another. It is a twenty-four hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week assignment. There’s little time to rest and less time to think about fulfilling my special purpose from God.” It was the end of a busy day-and she was nearing the end of her rope. By now I knew she didn’t need a strategic plan from me; what she needed and wanted was a sensitive ear and heart.
We took a piece of paper and wrote down ten things she loved to do: coach, inspire, run, counsel, encourage, listen, help, read, provide, and organize.
Then we looked at her current commitments, to see where these awesome abilities could be put to use at this time in her life for God. Every morning at 5:30 she exercised with a group of women-a perfect opportunity to coach, inspire, and encourage others. Then there were the women in our small group at church. They needed her gifts too. Her ability to organize and help could be used to orchestrate the annual pastor’s wives retreat and quarterly gatherings.
By evening’s end, she’d begun to see that God could use her natural abilities during any and every season of her life. All she needed was to be available and aware. It didn’t matter whether what she did was noticed by others. That is never the point of serving God. Willing hearts are his delight.
The point isn’t whether what she’s doing right now is her ultimate Kingdom Purpose, which it very well could be. The truth is, motherhood is a big deal. But my wife, like many women today, simply wanted to do more for God. By making these little deposits of love into others lives, she is paying into her account for God. As someone once profoundly stated, “The difference between an ordinary day and an extraordinary day is not so much what you do, but who you do it for.”
Maybe this season in your life doesn’t include being a parent, but you’re still wondering how you can use your natural God-given abilities to bring glory to his name. More often than not, we enjoy doing the things we do well. Rick Warren writes: “The abilities you do have are a strong indication of what God wants you to do with your life. They are clues to knowing God’s will for you…. God doesn’t waste abilities; he matches our calling and our capabilities.”
Take a few moments to think about what you love doing, the tasks you feel confident performing. This review will help you discover the specific ways you can make deposits of love through serving. God wants one fact to hit home with us: he “has given each of us the ability to do certain things well” (Romans 12:6a, NLT). Like my wife and millions of others, you too excel at doing certain things.
If you are a mom…thanks for making a significant difference with your life! You matter to God!!!