Ever had that kind of day where kids won’t stop crying and you just want to crawl back into bed, throw the covers over your head, and press an imaginary button on your alarm clock that says, “Turn back time”?
Motherhood is under a holocaust. There is a real-life, in-your-face assault against parenthood going on. It is under way every day, in every nation, in every city…but we just don’t see it.
It hides in the shopping commercials, the ads luring us to travel to exotic places; it creeps in through “the good life” promises and derogatory statements on social media. I mean, haven’t we all heard someone downplay motherhood, saying, “I am just a mom”?
But friends, this, motherhood-is-a-wasted-life theory is a lie, tempting to deceitfully derail us. It says, “Someone else’s life is better,” or “parenting has no joy or no fulfillment.”
Statistics today report, at an ever-increasing rate, that moms are abandoning their husbands, children, even entire households. Women are walking away from their label “motherhood” because someone somewhere has convinced them that they deserve more than changing diapers, attending to children’s mundane needs, or listening to kids bicker all day.
I mean, haven’t we all seen the crumbled families, the motherless children, the families broken because someone justified, “another life” must be better than the one that God by grace has given me?
I don’t know about you, but I have joked (sometimes not smiling) with my husband on those awful, terrible, really hard days when I just don’t think I can go on, “I am running away.” Please tell me you have threatened this too…or at least thought it?
But friends, God never wanted our self-centeredness. He simply asks for our obedient faithfulness. He calls us not to be the designer of our own destiny but to align our heart with His, laying down our wills for the sake of family.
I mean, let’s look at Scripture. From the beginning of time, there has been an assault against children and families: Cain killed Abel due to jealousy; Esau and Jacob battled due to their mother’s favoritism; people worshipped false gods like Molech, throwing live children into the fire for so-called purification; leaders like Pharaoh and Herod slaughtered children, wanting to be the one and only savior.
But God says family is precious. He welcomes, loves and delights in children. Psalm 127:3-5 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!”
Do you need six ways to treasure the little ones God has placed in your life?
Remember their position. (Matt. 18:1-25) When you feel what you’re doing is useless, remember that to God children are “greatest in the Kingdom.”
Be approachable. (Mark 10:14) The more you are with your children, the more your heart will mold with them. Time and attention always increase love.
Protect your children. (Luke 17:2) Our job is to do more than love and feed our children but also to protect them from dark influences, people and situations.
Provide everything your child needs for life and godliness. (1 Tim. 5:8) That includes spiritual training.
Pray over your children. (Matt. 19:13-20) Don’t be afraid to lay hands on your children and speak life over their little lives.
Give room for the Lord to work in your children’s lives. (Is. 54:13) Remember, He is the God who plans our children’s steps and ordains their lives.
Motherhood isn’t always laughing and amusement parks. But if we look at what God says about children, we will find motherhood to be some of the most holy, sacred work there is.
