{Motherhood isn’t a job, it’s a calling.}
As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
John 17:18 ESV
It’s 3:00 am and I’m wide-awake. I’ve been up with two of my girls for the fourth or fifth time that night. After finally giving up and putting them in my bed, I resolved to sleep on the sofa. I was exhausted and found myself thinking, “I don’t want to do this mommy thing anymore.”
What’s a weary, trying-to-sleep-on-the-sofa, wide-awake mom to do at 3:00 am? I don’t know about you, but this one decided to scroll through her phone. It was then that I saw Stefanie’s message asking if I’d like to write a guest post on motherhood.
I may have cried a tear or two thinking I knew nothing about motherhood and was most definitely not qualified to encourage others.
But the Lord spoke to me, “Just keep it real.” {Cuz He speaks cool like that to me}. So this is me, being real. Maybe too real for some. Maybe right on the mark for others.
I’ve been a single mommy to four girls for the last year now … and I’m weary.
Sometimes I don’t feel like doing laundry. Sometimes I don’t feel like making yet one more meal. Sometimes I don’t feel like brushing their hair. Sometimes I wish they’d put themselves to bed and I didn’t have to spend so much time tucking them in and reassuring their hurting hearts at the end of the day. Sometimes I don’t want to discipline them. Sometimes I don’t want to mend the hurt words between them.
Don’t get me wrong, I definitely give myself grace, pick my battles, and at times, send them off to school with dirty uniforms and unkempt hair.
The “sometimes” I’m talking about is this … sometimes I want to walk out to get the mail and never come back.
Yeah.
Why didn’t anyone ever tell me being a mom requires sacrifice … too much sacrifice. Honestly there are times I’m not so sure I’m selfless enough to do the job.
But it’s in those moments of complete and utter exhaustion, I remind myself of the words Sally Clarkson spoke in Ministry of Motherhood … these words that have come back to me time and again {paraphrasing}, “We are called to disciple our children as Jesus ministered to His disciples. That last night, exhausted and knowing what He’d be facing the next day … the anguish, the grueling task set before Him … He took time to sacrifice yet again. Not only having dinner with His disciples, but tenderly, patiently, and lovingly washing their feet.”
I’ll tell ya what … if it was this weary worn-out mom, you woulda found me long gone tucked into bed {or maybe the sofa!}.
But as Sally tenderly reminds us, “Motherhood isn’t a job, it’s a calling.”
I’ve been called to raise these four beautiful girls for Him. And it does require sacrifice … a lot of sacrifice. I can’t do it alone. And I’m not expected to do it alone! Even Jesus cried out for His Father to take His weary lot.
In my weary moments of mommyhood, I cry out to my Father, “I can’t do this alone. I need you.”
And it’s there in the quiet of my prayer time; He meets me and ministers to me. He fills my cup. Sometimes it’s “just enough strength to live for the day.” Sometimes it’s more.
Motherhood is hard. It’s sacrifice. It is a weary lot. But it’s oh-so-important to remember, motherhood is not a job … it’s a calling. In fact, I’d argue it’s the highest calling we’ll ever have.
Jesus, the definition of sacrifice, never gave up. He never turned His back and walked away. And in His strength, neither will I.
Tracie
About Tracie…
Tracie is a child of God, mother of four daughters, photographer, blogger, twitterer, living with MS…and blessed beyond belief! You can find her blogging at {tsi} photography or on twitter as tmstier. Her newly released e-book is 31 Days of Faith {finding joy in your anguish}. Tracie also co-founded and writes with a team of amazing women for Mothers of Daughters at a blog called the MODsquad.
