Jan 23, 2020
I get it. I really do. I was about to explode one Sunday after running errands with the kids. The constant noise and bickering coupled with keeping my kids from eating old sticky gummies in the van and running out into the parking lot had pushed me to the brink of insanity.
But it was on this particular drive home as I sat frustrated and fuming that God spoke to my soul. “I see you and that’s all that matters.” I allowed God’s grace to flow into my thoughts as I realized what was really bothering me was that I was spending so much of myself doing little things that no one noticed. Ouch. This truth hurt. It hurt to think that deep down I want to do something big that others can see and praise. It shouldn’t surprise me that my Creator knows my heart more than I do.
The truth is, as moms, our hardest work is done when no one sees. There are no formal raises, promotions, or accolades in motherhood. I think that in itself can make all the small things seem insignificant and menial. But they are not.
God keeps nudging me towards the idea that I don’t need to go in search of big things but rather focus on what he has placed in front of me. Folding laundry, making dinner, breaking up sibling squabbles, and explaining why we don’t eat out of the catfood bowl may seem monotonous and trivial. But God is showing me that these are not small things to Him. And if I’m completely honest, it’s downright hard to do these things day in and day out with a joyful heart. As soon as I finish laundry, another dirty load needs washing. Dishes are the same, and little boys don’t stay clean.
Faithfulness in the small things may not gain a lot of attention, and there surely won’t be any plaque to display for a job well done. But once we realize God doesn’t distinguish big or small things, we are given freedom to do all things for His glory.
In all things, we can mirror His faithfulness. It’s His patience that we channel as we tell our kids for the 100th time not to lick the grocery cart. It’s His strength that sustains when attention spans are exhausted and there’s still more schoolwork to be done. It’s His joy that lets us have fun with the kids in the middle of a messy house. And on that Sunday drive home, it was His love that dissipated my frustration as he reminded me that he sees all things big and small.
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