Sunday mornings can be rough. But we need to remember this season of life with small kids, little patience, and diaper blowouts are anything but mundane.
I see you, stressed out Sunday morning mom
My husband leaves early to set up and lead band practice before the service. So, it’s me with all three of the kids.
Popsicles before breakfast, missing shoes, diaper blowout (always after the cute outfit goes on), 16-month-old throwing a tantrum, breaking up a fight between the boys, making and serving breakfast, nursing, brown sugar spilled all over the kitchen floor by the sugar-loving three-year-old, the window on the back door that has been broken finally shattered and fell over the back porch where the boys were playing, nurse the baby again before we get in the car.
After finally getting all three kids buckled in the car, I just stopped and I felt prompted to stop and pray out loud. The first quiet moment of the morning.
“God, help me this morning. Fill me with Your peace, with Your patience. Thank you for Ashton, Greyson, and Kaylee. Thank you for your love. Help me to show it to them.”
I turned on the silly songs for the boys, the newborn is crying halfway to the church, kids are missing shoes that were taken off during the car ride.
To no one’s surprise, we get to church late.
And then wind up watching the service from the mommy room with my toddler that wanted to talk and a baby that needed to nurse again.
This is just the season of life right now
This season of life, my kids need me. They need my attention, they need my comfort, the need me.
God put this verse on my heart. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is truly the way to worship.” Romans 12:1
Could there be a verse that applies better to motherhood than that?
The sleepless nights, the meals prepared, the countless sacrifices that we make. Do we really grasp Who we are ultimately doing this for? Do we really understand just how important our work is or how beautiful and acceptable it is to God?
Look up
So, if anyone else had a morning like mine, I know where you are. I know how you feel. I know what you’re doing day in and day out. And I want you to know: it is worship. It is service to God. It is the furthest thing from the mundane it may feel like, because what you are doing is life-giving, Kingdom-advancing, eternity-changing, soul-enriching work. And it is holy and acceptable in the eyes of God.
The next time you miss church as a result of a squalling baby or a tantrum-throwing toddler or a sick child? Look up. Take your eyes off your circumstances for a moment and instead fix your eyes on the Lord. Remember the truth of the Gospel. Doing this will help you see your current circumstances more clearly, through the eyes of God and eternity rather than the here and now.
