I really do enjoy being a mother- I've found it to be a fulfilling experience for me and when I became a mother I felt a sense of purpose that I hadn’t found elsewhere up until that point. And I know an unfair amount of women who would have loved to have had children but for whatever reason weren’t able to and so I’ve mad a vow to myself to appreciate the gift of our children (even when they drive me nuts!). I also feel infinitely blessed to be able to stay home with my kids. When I was working full-time with two little ones at home it was really, really hard. Working 40 hours a week, then also keeping the house clean, shopping, making the meals, caring for the family- that doesn’t leave a lot of opportunity for personal time. So even on my hard days I say a prayer to God, because I find myself incredibly grateful.

Yet, being a mother is really hard. There are days (truly more often than not) that I literally feel like the worst mother in the world. Kids are loud, and they misbehave, and they make messes, and they say weird things… and I always feel like it’s my fault when my kids aren’t being perfect. I feel like eyes are always on my parenting and its tough. And then there are parts of being a mother or a homemaker that are just so thankless. The basketfuls of laundry, the three meals per day of cooking, mopping the kitchen floor countless times each day as people trail in dirt and sand, kissing boo-boos, wiping noses, washing hands- lots and lots of little tasks that receive no recognition or praise. I’ll admit that was hard for me when I first stopped working full-time, I had received a lot of praise at work and it kind of felt like I suddenly had the worst job in the world- no pay, no benefits, and no thanks! There are times when I’m feeling really overwhelmed by it all that I wonder, what is the point of all this? Why do I clean the kitchen floors? Why don’t I just make chicken nuggets for breakfast, lunch and supper every day? Why do I fold the laundry? Why am I reading this book for the 15th time today?

A few years ago I saw a quote from a book that really spoke to my soul. The book is called, “Every Moment Holy” and it is a book of liturgies for daily moments- there’s one for making your daily coffee, for sick days, for planting flowers etc. I ended up buying the book because of one liturgy in particular, for Domestic Days. This particular prayer is one I read probably once a week, and it gives me an answer to all my “Whys?”. The quote I originally saw said this, “In the cleaning and ordering and maintenance of things- of dishes, of floors, of carpets and toilets and tubs, of scrubbing and sweeping and dusting and laundering- That by such stewardship I might bring a greater order to my own life, and to the lives of any I am given to serve, so that in those ordered spaces bright things might flourish: fellowship and companionship, creativity and conversation, learning and laughter and enjoyment and health.” I certainly desire that all the things I do in my home will inspire these good things in my family for years to come. The liturgy continues and I find it to be beautiful, I’d write it all out but I haven’t got the time! You can listen to the entire thing recited here (please do).

I think we can all use that reminder on occasion, not just the mothers in this email list. We all have those thankless duties in our lives- whether they are unappreciated family commitments, or unnoticed work tasks, ministry that isn’t on a stage so it isn’t seen, etc. Jesus was a servant to all and our small, unnoticed acts of faithfulness (with the right attitude) can be a mirror of his love.