Everyday Moments

When I was a little girl and you asked me what I wanted to be…

When I was a teen dreaming of the coming years…

When I was in college studying for the next exam…

In all those moments and many more, I was praying that someday I’d be a mom. I did not know how many children I wanted – I don’t even think I thought of that part of it. I just wanted to be a mother. To care for little ones. To love them daily. To see the joy in them as they learn new things, discover the world around them. To raise them to know the love of Jesus and help them walk the narrow path he has laid out for them.

I saw joy, hope, laughter. I saw memories being made to last a lifetime. I didn’t see heartache, hurts that take time to heal, or the strain of children becoming adults and not staying on that narrow path.

But God… he saw it all. He saw me dreaming of my future. He saw my heart and drew me closer to him as I became a parent and had to lean more into him than I ever had in my life. He knew that as I followed my dream I would become discouraged – by how I reacted to my children, by choices my children would make, BUT he also knew I would find HOPE in him. That when the days were dark and lonely, I would know God was in this with me. That his plan was greater than mine and I needed to trust him… I needed to fully give my children into his care and know he would be with them.

My everyday moments… those seemingly unimportant moments – folding laundry, making dinner, driving the mom taxi – I had to choose to see those as opportunities to serve Him. In those moments I can reflect on each of my children. Pray for them as I fold laundry. Gather around a table to reconnect and share our lives with each other. Talk with them about God and show them how to make him a part of their everyday.

It may be an ordinary life to most that amounts to nothing. But I have lived my dream job for 23 years and counting. I know that by living in those everyday moments – the good ones and the ones that brought me to my knees in prayer, I was serving God. As I loved (and continue to love) them, I was loving God. May my children always know my love for them but that I may reflect the love God has for them more so.