I choose to serve, period.

It's amazing what God can use to change one's heart. For me it was two things. The first is Abigail's birth. I absolutely love having these two children, and truly desire a house full. The second is the book, "The Mission of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson. If you are a mother, you should read this book - and I really mean that. This book has spoken directly to my soul in a way that is life changing. Something no other book as done, outside of scripture. If I had to sum up what I've read to this point I'd say it goes something like this. Mothers are the thermostat of the home, it is our responsibility to remain focused on what is truly important. We are responsible to teach children to know and love the Lord, and that begins with our hearts as mothers. If my heart is not right, I cannot properly lead my little ones. If I merely raise intelligent, smart and beautiful children I've missed it. I have been entrusted with the task of raising children who intimately know and love the Lord, desiring to follow after him all the days of their lives. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul". I need to keep the main thing the main thing, and that requires me to lay down my life for my family and become a "servant-mother". So opposite of society's message. I didn't realize how much of that message I'd let into my thinking until recently. My children don't need things and busyness. They need a mother who will walk beside them in life, show them what a life in & with Christ looks like, and teach them how to live in the world but not of it. I have been so refreshed, and even now thinking through what I've read, the excitement is returning anew to my heart. Ahh, purpose. What greater importance could I place on my life than being a wife, mother and child of God? There is none.

Before I conclude I thought I'd share a few of my favorite passages with you from the book.

On Being A Servant Mother:
"I have to choose to serve Christ by giving my time and energy to my children-not just when I feel like it but when they need me...Choosing to be a servant-mother means willingly giving up myself, my expectations, and my time to the task of mothering - and choosing to believe that doing so is the best use of my time for that moment. That means that, by faith, I have already made a decision to make myself available in the routine tasks and myriad interruptions of daily life because I believe it is God's will for me to serve my family through them. Making this choose ahead of time means I will expect problems and need to arise and be ready to deal with them in peace instead of impatience and resentment...Jesus was able to choose sacrifice and servanthood because of his deep love-and because he was looking to eternity! When we choose to sacrifice our own goals and desires to serve our children, we too are furthering his eternal work."

On Being A Discipling Mother:
"I don't just want my kids to be moral. I don't just want them to know all the biblical rules for behavior. I don't just want them to make it through my home with good grades, no drug addiction and no promiscuity. I want them to leave my home with a hunger and passion to know God personally and to be used by him to accomplish great things for his kingdom. I want them to personally hear God's voice and have his gentle touch and impression on their hearts as they read the Scriptures and struggle with the issues of their lives. Whatever else we give our children as they grow, God wants us to pass along an eternal vision and purpose as well as a passion for Christ. If we are wise we will keep this goal ever before us-to keep focused on what really matters, on the ultimate purpose of our activity as parents."

Phew.

For those of you still reading, I hope you are encouraged. God has been doing great things in my heart and life as a result of this woman's words. I couldn't help but share it with you. And for those of you who have already read this book, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it or what you've learned!


Here's to Mothers



And Grandmothers


Happy Parenting Ladies!