What My Children Need...

When people see our big family traipsing through the market or walking to the park or leaving for church squeaking clean or arriving at church slightly dirty because a few of us have already fallen down in the dirt, they say things like, ‘My! You’re busy’ or ‘You have your hands full!’

But, the way I see it, isn’t that the point? Since when is the goal to have your hands empty?
Whether I get it all done or whether I don’t, it doesn’t really matter. Whose tombstone ever said, ‘She was always caught up with her mending’ anyway?”
–Daja @ In Other Words

(Or in my case, the ironing.) I saw this post on Kelly's Generation Cedar blog and it has become one of my new favorites.

For today my hands have been full. I have had some homeschool struggles, a disobedient two year old, a to-do list that will never get done today, a garden that needs so much attention, and the termite inspection man just showed up unexpectedly and I had to write him an unexpected $113 dollar check. Emotionally I have been on the verge of crying all day. I want to just sit and cry (and sometimes I do that and think everyone should do that), but just a minute ago I was reminded by the Spirit that it is not about me. Oh, it is about my sanctification because God loves me and cares about me. But, this day was ordained before the beginning of time for HIS glory, not mine. I would love to have it all together and be able to know just what to do with my children and my home. I heard a woman, a very well-respected woman in the homeschool community, say she wanted to be a SuperMom because her children deserved a SuperMom. Guilt, guilt I felt as I heard that. Of course, I thought my children deserved a SuperMom also so I set out again to "get it all together" and make everyone miserable so my children could look good on the outside and hate me on the inside. I thought about this statement for a long time. And just a few minutes ago as I was on the exercise machine the Spirit reminded me that my children don't need a SuperMom, they need a SuperJesus. One whom they can turn to when their mother fails them again. One they can turn to when they are having to make a wise choice on how to treat their siblings. One that will give them joy when the world hurts them.

They need me of course. God put them in my family and I am to love, protect, and raise them by His Word. They need me to cuddle, to kiss boo-boos, to discipline, to listen to their ideas and stories. And yes, they need me to teach them handwriting and to cook their lunch. They need clean clothes and fun days to just be children.

But they don't need a mom who doesn't need Jesus too.

I hope my hands are always full. We were put here on the Earth to work and I happen to love my work-helping my husband, raising these children, and keeping my home. Today has just been a very full day, and its not even over, and I am so thankful that I don't have to have it together for Jesus.