My days as a SAHM end with exhaustion and often times thoughts of “what did I actually accomplish today?” running on a continuous hamster wheel through my mind.
Daily tasks, constant demands, and the visibility of a kitchen that just can’t manage to stay clean for 5 minutes can feel overwhelming.
There just never seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done that I want. Eventually I realized that the struggle I face daily as a SAHM is the pressure to do everything, while at the same time desiring to be present in every moment.
Sure, I could recommend the best planners and organization charts for the new year that might make you feel motivated for the next few months, but that won’t solve the underlying problem when the organization fervor fades.
Instead, I decided to turn to the scriptures to find out what God has to say about how we spend our time.
I was reminded of the story of Mary, Martha and Jesus (Luke 10:38-42). Martha was anxious about all the things she had to do in her home to prepare for company. She even complained to Jesus that Mary wasn’t helping her!
However, Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the best thing: Mary had chosen to spend quality time with Him.
This story accurately mirrors the struggle of motherhood. More importantly, it also shows us how we should think about spending our time.
1. Sit at the Feet of Jesus
Mary intentionally chose to sit at the feet of Jesus. Her love and devotion for God led her to take the time to listen to what He had to say.
Your relationship with God comes before anything else (Deut. 6:5). The closer you draw to Christ, the more your home will flourish (John 15:5).
Mama, find rest at his feet. Let God care for you. He loves you and enjoys spending time with you too.
Motherhood requires so much pouring into the little lives we are raising.
We need to find our spiritual nourishment, peace, and joy first with our Creator before we can care for others.
How exactly does time with God look when us mothers have a hard time even remembering to eat lunch? It will look different for everyone.
For some, getting up early before the kids to read your Bible quietly is easiest. For others, joining a weekly women’s Bible study for encouragement and accountability works well.
And still for other moms, it may be meditating on God’s word throughout the day as they work through their household duties. Whatever it is that works for you, make spending time with the Lord a priority.
God will give you everything you need and all else will fall into place.
2. Put On Kingdom Glasses
When Mary chose to spend time with Jesus, she was also choosing eternity (2 Peter 3:18). When we put on our Kingdom glasses, everything should look different.
We will view everything through the lens of furthering God’s Kingdom. Jesus’ command before he ascended into heaven was the Great Commission (Mark 16:15).
Our job is to spread the good news and hope of Jesus. In conjunction, the Bible also instructs us to disciple our children in the faithfulness of God (Deut. 6:7).
This means we can approach everyday tasks and family relationships within the context of eternity and spreading the good news of Jesus within our home.
Whether it’s your child asking the same question that has been answered for the fifty-sixth time while you rush to fix dinner, or making time at the end of the day to pack your husband’s lunch for work, remember that your care for your family is impacting God’s Kingdom- even when it doesn’t feel like it.
3. Do Your Tasks For the Glory of God
Jesus had great joy seeing Mary sitting at His feet listening to Him. While her chores may not have been completed, He said she had chosen the better thing. Living life day to day can seem mundane.
However, we can choose to bring glory to God in everything we do! He is pleased when we commit our work to Him; nothing is insignificant and everything has purpose.
Your commitment to care for your children, like changing diapers, brings glory to God. Your investment in their lives, big and small, is the calling of motherhood. Every time-out you give, every snack you offer— all of it can bring glory to God.
When you seek to glorify God in everything you do, relationships and chores become opportunities to serve God rather than just boxes to check off your list.
Mamas, time is a precious gift from the Lord. Your home rests firmly on your relationship with God.
Like Mary, when you choose to focus your heart on Christ and spend time with Him, the guilty feelings of not getting enough done will fade.
In its place, you will find freedom from the hamster wheel and reap the beautiful benefits of finding purpose in the daily tasks as well as being more present with your family- time well spent within your home.
While I may not be able to tell you exactly when to bake those cookies for the bake sale, or how to squeeze in enough time to wash the living room baseboards, I can tell you that everything done within your home will not go unnoticed in the Kingdom of God.
Lauren is a writer and blogger whose love for Jesus propels her passion to encourage mothers. She reads recipe books for fun, loves iced coffee, and enjoys impromptu kitchen dance parties with her kids. She’s written for ministries like She Reads Truth and Open The Bible. She writes out of her home while also raising four children with her husband. You can find more of her writing when you follow her on Instagram @lauren.eve.writer
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