From Part 5, “Remember, God gave these children to us. He knows what He is doing. And every time you are afraid, look to Him….”
But what about when we feel like we are going crazy with the mundane and repetitive stuff of caring for small people? Or the constant reminding (ahem) of stuff to the big people (i.e. teens)? When the four walls feel like they are closing in on us and we are bone weary? Where you start thinking – there must be more to life than this….
Be encouraged while living out the daily grind of life
This may apply more to stay-at-home mothers more than working mothers. But either way, there are things that mothers need to do daily that are routinely mundane and dreary. Cook 3 times a day, change diapers, check homework, the list goes on. This is where our heart of service is challenged. Colossians 3:23-24 exhorts us to work heartily for the Lord, not men because we will receive a reward from Him.
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)
Right attitudes
Are we doing that? And are we doing that with the right attitude? Or are we grumbling and muttering under our breath while doing it? Are we willing to serve without the limelight shining on us? Are we willing to do the boring stuff without any accolades? Let us BE ENCOURAGED by our Lord’s example. The King, who washed His disciples feet! The King, who died for us, while we were yet sinners, and was mocked for doing so. No one cheered for Him. Everyone abandoned Him.
Change our mindset, again
This is where we have to again, change our mindset, change our perspective of these so-called boring and menial tasks. Let us not see these tasks as beneath us. Instead, let us BE ENCOURAGED to see each act as service to the Lord. Change yet another diaper? Cook yet another meal? Give yet another spelling test?
Service to the Lord
I remember one point Jose Philips (a member of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries) made in his sermon here at FGA at the beginning of 2016. He said,
“We need more of the supernatural power to do the ordinary than the extraordinary.”
And isn’t that true? Everybody wants the mountaintop experience but no one wants to walk through the valley to get there.
Sometimes, motherhood is not just mundane which is bad enough but dreary at times too – deal with another temper tantrum, yet another child to potty train (something I really, really dislike!), face yet another angst-filled teenager. The list goes on. We most certainly need supernatural power to deal with these with grace! But be encouraged to see these as service to the Lord, it will change how you deal with them.
…Next week, let us Be Encouraged to know that He is a God who sees! …
Some questions to ponder this week :
- Does the daily grind of life wear you down?
- What is your attitude as you go through your daily chores?
- How do you deal with the daily grind of life? Ignore it? Farm it out?
Links referenced in this post
The full series of Be Encouraged
- Part 1 – Be Encouraged: Introduction
- Part 2 – Be Encouraged to see motherhood as a ministry
- Part 3 – Be Encouraged to see our children as blessings
- Part 4 – Be Encouraged to fix our eyes on Jesus
- Part 5 – Be Encouraged, not afraid
- Part 6 – Be Encouraged while living out the daily grind of life
- Part 7 – Be Encouraged to know that He is the God-Who-Sees
- Part 8 – Be Encouraged and embrace motherhood wholeheartedly