Bible Verse Friday #44

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" ~1Corinthians 15:58

Last week I went to my first ever Mommy small group.

It was a bit chaotic.

There were kids playing all over.

It was loud.

The leaders were reading a devotional and asking questions.

The other Mommies were quietly sitting there, almost as though it was a mini vacation for them.

I felt so overwhelmed and so obligated to answer the questions so that the leaders didn't feel that they had organized this in vain.

Being that Bitsy and I stay home by ourselves most days, it's easy to understand how being around about 10 kids and all the noise that accompanies them can be a bit of a shock to our quiet routine.

It was good to get out of our norm.

Unfortunately, I didn't hear much of the message they leaders were trying to convey, but what I did catch was the above verse and the content behind it.

Our labor in the Lord, our mothering, is not in vain.  It may look sometimes as if it's in vain, but it's not.  God promises us that it's not.

Our group leaders later sent us this poem:

Loving Jesus

I started my day early,

Before the room was light.

I lifted my son from his crib

And wished it was still night.

But as I held him close and said, 

"Hi, Kenneth, precious one,"

I knew that as I greeted him, 

I greeted too God's Son.

When my daughter woke up later,

Calling, "Mommy!  Mommy! Down!"

I picked her up and hugged her

in her worn Elmo nightgown.

I know she felt the closeness

that a mother's touch affords.

I welcomed not just Ellie, 

But so, too, the Lord of Lords.

That day, I mixed some formula

And opened jars of peas.

I fixed some "pizza butter' bread

When she grinned and said, "Pleeeeease."

I heated up some leftovers;

I had to nuke them twice.

And when I fed my children, 

I was feeding Jesus Christ.

I made some funny faces,

And "played puzzles" on the floor.

I dressed kitties, ran around outside,

And played with them some more.

We laughed and jumped and tickled, 

Making memories to be stored.

When I spent time with my children,

I spent time with my Lord.

I wiped up sticky cereal

And washed the dishes clean.

I straightened, picked up, put away,

And dusted in between.

I did six loads of laundry

And folded it like new.

When I cleaned for my children,

I cleaned for my Savior, too.

When my children were both crying,

I held them in my arms.

I cuddled them and whispered

That I'd keep them safe from harm.

I told them how their Father saved them

With His perfect Lamb

When I comforted my children, 

I comforted I AM.

Later on that evening,

I put them in the bath.

I washed their little bodies

As they kicked around and splashed.

I dried them in soft towels

And put their jammies on.

When I had washed my children's feet,

I'd wash the Hold One.

I cooked and cleaned and rearranged,

Made beds and taught and played.

I made sure that we had food to eat

And that we often prayed.

I died to self.  I made a home

From ordinary things.

But when I served my children,

I served the King of Kings.

To some, I have done nothing,

But to two, I've done the world.

I made eternal difference

To my precious boy and girl,

And to the One who watches over

Every pathway that I've trod.

For when I've loved my precious children,

I've loved Almighty God.

~Megan Breedlove

I know that not everyone who visits here is a Mom, but everyone here has had a mother.

I know Mother's day was a while back and Father's day is the focus of our coming weekend, but for a moment just reflect on what it means to be a Mom.

It is a selfless act.

Once our little ones join us we no longer have the time we once had to seek God.

Quiet time is now filled with extra chores and tasks.

We must know that "your labor in the Lord is not in vain", everything we do we do for the Lord.

Be it cleaning up spit up, coloring in coloring books, or napping with our kiddos.

If you are a Mom take a moment to reflect on that.

If you aren't a Mom, take a moment to thank a Mom for the work they do.

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!