I recently became a mom of 2. I have little boy who just turned 2 and little 8 month old girl. They are my world of course as any good momma would say.
But I am also very involved in the ministry of my church and Jesus is my number 1. I'm about to share some facts about ministry and mommy hood that for some reason no one talks about....
IT AIN'T EASY.
Heck it ain't even easy to even get us all to church on time and presentable and then sit quietly during church all the while getting spiritually fed. Honestly most services I don't. Most services I'm sitting there managing my children, changing diapers, feeding, and putting them to sleep. All that plus teaching class, or singing on the praise team it doesn't leave much time for a midweek refreshing. And the few short moments where they are quiet and I can finally sit and listen to the preacher don't add up to much at the end of the day.
There are many Sundays I find myself questioning what is the point of even coming. It is so much work with little reward it seems and if I wasn't so grounded in my beliefs and the importance of a pastor, and church family I don't think I would be there most weeks.
I love teaching Sunday school, singing, and being youth leaders, but sometimes it feels as though my kids hinder us from all we could be doing ....
Then a Sunday rolls around where I'm sitting there watching my children from the pulpit as I am leading worship and I see them raising their hands worshiping Jesus and I am checked in my spirit. If all ever do is lead my children to Jesus and they live long, happy lives knowing who he is, living for him then I have done more then I could have ever dreamed of.
I asked my grandma about this long before I was married and had children. I was going to bible school at the time, and I remember wondering why my Grandma was "just the ladies minister". (Not that there is anything wrong with that) She was such a Godly women, who was an intercessor, prayer warrior and was always in the Word studying. She had and still has the sweetest of spirits and always has the right thing to say. She could have made a great minister of the word. I guess in my bible college mind I just could see her doing so much more and so I asked her about it one day. Her response stuck with me and although at the time it stuck with me because I couldn't grasp it, now that I am older with kids of my own I get it on a whole other level. She told me her most important ministry was being a mom. She said it with much more eloquence then that, but nevertheless it is so true.
The bible says to "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." -Proverbs 22:6
It also tell us in Corinthians that we have power with the angels and that as women in the house our prayers can save our family.
My pastor also made a great point the other day. In Ephesians 10 we learn about the Armour of God. Something I've never noticed before and that he shed light on was that the only part of the body that isn't covered is the back. That is why it is important to have your husbands back in submission and prayer. For as he is the head of house, your prayers help cover that house!
That is some powerful prayers.
My folks no longer go to church, but their life and guidance when I was young still makes an impact on my life. I remember going to church early because we had to set up gifts for the missionary and staying late to help clean the church. Sometimes I feel like I am doing an inadequate job in ministry because of my kids or I am doing inadequate job as a mother because of my ministry, but in reality they go hand in hand. My children are learning to put God first and my youth group and fellow church members (specifically those fellow momma's) are seeing it can be done and even more so NEEDS to be done!
I know it can be hard Momma, but...
I know it can be hard Momma, but...
Don't give up on God and church because of kids, but rather get more involved, become even more faithful, make sure your children know who Jesus is!
