The other morning I woke up after another night of interrupted sleep feeling no desire to get out of my warm bed and be a mom. Tali woke up extra early after Addie had just fallen back asleep and the needs of the day started calling from every room. "I want Mommy!" Addie woke up again and started crying, wanting to be fed. Owen began crying in his room too. I immediately started complaining. I think I said something to Josh like, "I just don't want to do this again today. I want to retire from this job. There's nothing fun about it right now. I am so tired I just don't think I can do this today."
Lack of sleep really can distort my view of reality. In that moment, everything was too hard, too much, and no relief was in sight. God really wasn't anywhere in my mind. My thoughtful husband encouraged me to try and rest a bit longer while he cared for the kids. With all the crying going on, I couldn't sleep so I tried to pray. God kindly brought to my mind this truth: when I'm serving, I'm reflecting Jesus who came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). That is a worthwhile and beautiful thing, hard as it may be.
That's the truth I've been trying to meditate on when things get "hard" and I'm tired. It is such a fight to fix my mind on what's true here, but it's worth it. God's using His Word to change the way I relate to the kids. Instead of looking for some rest and resenting them for interrupting me and my relaxation, I'm finding joy in knowing I'm reflecting Christ as I serve them. There aren't many jobs where you serve 24 hours a day. It's a privilege to serve my kids as a stay-at-home mama. I get the opportunity to reflect Christ's life to my babies and to the world as I serve them day in and day out.
All you tired mommies out there, take heart! You are pleasing the Lord and reflecting Jesus as you humbly serve your families.
Lord, help me to remember that in the moments when serving doesn't seem so appealing.
"And He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sakes died and was raised." 2 Cor. 5:15
Lack of sleep really can distort my view of reality. In that moment, everything was too hard, too much, and no relief was in sight. God really wasn't anywhere in my mind. My thoughtful husband encouraged me to try and rest a bit longer while he cared for the kids. With all the crying going on, I couldn't sleep so I tried to pray. God kindly brought to my mind this truth: when I'm serving, I'm reflecting Jesus who came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). That is a worthwhile and beautiful thing, hard as it may be.
That's the truth I've been trying to meditate on when things get "hard" and I'm tired. It is such a fight to fix my mind on what's true here, but it's worth it. God's using His Word to change the way I relate to the kids. Instead of looking for some rest and resenting them for interrupting me and my relaxation, I'm finding joy in knowing I'm reflecting Christ as I serve them. There aren't many jobs where you serve 24 hours a day. It's a privilege to serve my kids as a stay-at-home mama. I get the opportunity to reflect Christ's life to my babies and to the world as I serve them day in and day out.
All you tired mommies out there, take heart! You are pleasing the Lord and reflecting Jesus as you humbly serve your families.
Lord, help me to remember that in the moments when serving doesn't seem so appealing.
"And He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sakes died and was raised." 2 Cor. 5:15
