Several years ago, I overheard a “celebrity” being interviewed on TV as I prepared dinner for our family. The questions seemed to center on her public life, and then, one question got my attention.
“If you could only say one thing to young mothers who are raising their children, what would it be?” asked the reporter. The woman thought for just a moment and replied, “Life is not a dress-rehearsal. You only get one shot at raising your kids. Don’t mess it up.”
Her voice cracked slightly, and I heard the familiar sound of missed opportunity in her tone. I wondered why. By all appearances, she had the “perfect” life. Beautiful children, lots of money, handsome husband. I put down my paring knife to focus on the remainder of her short interview. It turned out that she was estranged from two of her children. She lamented the fact that while she was raising her children, she and her husband spent so much time cultivating a “perfect” family, that they did not develop a relationships with their children that would last. It only looked good on the outside. And now, it was too late to start over. The time for raising her children had passed. She could only warn other mothers not to walk down the same path she had gone down.
The time for sowing seed had passed. The harvest was in.
It is hard to hear those kinds of words. My heart hurt for this mom. Naturally, I thought of my own children. Our oldest, who is now married and expecting her own child this fall was nearly 16 at the time—and even then, it seemed that it was just yesterday when we were holding her in our arms, in awe of her perfect features and scared to death that we wouldn’t do everything “just right”. I thought of my grandmother, who remarked to me just a few months after grand-daddy died that she was amazed at how fast her life had gone by.
Grandma said to me, “Heidi, the best thing you will ever do in this life is to love your husband and to raise your children to love and serve the Lord. Don’t let the world fool you into thinking that having children is anything less than the best thing you’ll ever do.” How I miss this precious lady! She was so wise.
I recently spoke to a group of women in Washington about the blessing of motherhood. It seems odd to me that many Christians have bought into the world’s way of looking at children. It must grieve the heart of God when we think of our children as anything less than a gift straight from the heart of the Creator Himself.
The Bible is full of stories of amazing moms who understood their worth before the Father. God’s word stresses the importance of mothers! In Exodus 2 we read about Jochebed, the mother of Moses. She protected her son, even putting her own life in peril, and then entrusted him to the Lord. Eunice, the mother of Timothy, instructed her son in the knowledge of the scriptures and he went on to have an incredible impact for the kingdom as part of Paul’s ministry. Read the books of Timothy and you will see Paul reference Timothy’s grandmother, Lois and his mother, too. They must have been amazing women!
In the United States today, mothers are under enormous pressure to conform to the world’s view of children. Radical Feminism has devalued motherhood in a quest for “greater meaning” and “true identity”. But God sees things much differently.
The world says: “Children are a burden.”
God says, “Children are a blessing.”
The world says, “Try not to have more than two or three children. ”
God says, “Blessed is the man who has many children!”
The world says, “Children get in the way.”
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to ME.”
The world has diminished the high-calling of motherhood to little more than a “stop-over” on the highway of life.
But God says that a wife of strong character is rare – she is worth far more than jewels! (Prov. 31.10)
If you are a mother, you have an amazing opportunity every day to shape the future. As a homeschooling mom, you have even more time to influence the lives of your precious children. Homeschooling provides endless opportunities to teach your children about God’s love for them! Mom, your job is so important! You have been given the privilege of weaving a fabric of family life using the truth of God’s word to impact the lives of your children…
Ultimately, this fabric will be a beautiful tapestry that will bear witness to the power and love of the Lord Jesus as your children walk with the One who created them in your womb.
I’m glad I was reminded of the fact that life is not a dress-rehearsal. I’m thankful that my grandmother loved the fact that Jay and I chose to have a family that doesn’t fit the “worlds” mold very easily. The time does pass quickly. Let’s redeem the time God has given us to influence these precious children for the Glory of God. It’s an investment that yields a harvest of joy that will continue into eternity.
This is a beautiful article! So many times I have needed to pull back the reins of my own agenda and put my focus on where it needs to be…my family! Praise the Lord for your dear heart and sharing yourself through this blog. May God continue to speak to your heart and use your writings to speak to so many people who need His strength in our child-raising years! To Him Be the GLORY!
Thank you for posting the TRUTH!!! 🙂
Thank you for sharing this today. It really spoke to my heart.
Sweet!
Thank you for this post. It is exactly the encouragement my heart needs right now. We are new to the homeschooling and I have been struggling with feeling like an inadequate mother, wife and teacher. It is/was more of the worlds view than His view.
A perfect thing for me to read today. Thank you!
Heidi, this has such great timing. In a world that wants to pull us from our children, you are sharing truth in how to be a Mom for God and raise our children for God. I pray you are blessed beyond reason for sharing His truth!
Thank you! Just the encouragement I needed today. 🙂
I have been very discouraged lately and feeling like I can’t do anything right as a mother. Thank you so much for this article, it really spoke to my heart and was very encouraging!
This is just what I needed to hear today! Sometimes I admit I play the “what if” game. Several years ago I made the choice to leave my career and focus on motherhood, and now, homeschooling my children. There are days I feel (or people say things to make me feel) like I made the wrong choice, or that I have chosen a boring, small, insignificant life without having a “real” job. Thank you for reminding me that this IS a REAL job! I am not always the best teacher or mommy, but God fills in the gaps!
Priceless! And it’s precious to hear it again and again. God’s word is true!
You’re grandma was so right! The time does just fly by and in the end what we have done with it speaks to who we are in Jesus. Thanks for the good message and reminder.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I am in the hospital right now having baby #4 and the world has really been encroaching on my joy during this pregnancy!! Everyone who finds out we are having #4 automatically assumes we just have to be finished. They can’t imagine why anyone would want that many children. I always cringe when someone makes the “so your finished” comment because I have to say we might not be. My admission is usually followed a shocked smile and unconvincing “oh that’s great.” God definitely has different plans for our family than what society considers smart or responsible. I definitely needed the reminder today of the enormous blessing God is working in me and through me. So, thank you for letting God speak to me through you.
Right now!? Congratulations 🙂 What an exciting day … I’m jealous 🙂
Heidi,
I’m new to your blog and I so appreciate your ministry here to homeschooling moms.
Your grandma’s wise words to you- shared with us- were so timely to my heart this morning.
Thank you,
~Stacy
Thank you, Stacy! 🙂
Love this reminder!
Love this…Such a great reminder to stop listening to and worrying about what other people think when it comes to your family and how you raise them, how many children you have, etc. Do what God is calling you to do and you will be blessed beyond belief!
Thanks
Heidi…thanks for this. I am a 44 year old pastor’s wife. When I surprisingly became pregnant w/ baby #5 last year, my flesh thought the Lord forgot how busy of a person I was… trying to homeschool the 4 children I already had, plus being the helpmeet to my husband (Pastor) who I help tremendously at our small church. However, our baby brought such a new joy and new purpose. I had no other option than to stop putting the church first (which I only see now in hindsight). Home became first again and we are so blessed to have everything back in its rightful place (marriage, children, church…). I thank God for receiving this new blessing in so many ways, and reminding me what my real purpose is as a wife and mother. I may have continued being “busy” pastor’s wife and God forbid would’ve lost my children’s hearts along the way.
Jen I can so relate to this. <3 Thanks for sharing. God will bless your desire to follow Him above all else! Blessings on you and your precious family!
Love it!! I was once one of those people – I wanted a career and to travel… you know, be successful (that was how I defined success then). It has been a journey but I think I have finally given up my “career” aspirations for greater treasures. My next hurdle was to reconcile wanting to have more children with the norm that you shouldn’t have more than 3 (I’ve crossed that bridge now with 4 kiddos). I thought I was being selfish for wanting so many children. Thank God, I can now see this desire to have children is from Him and my husband is happy with me to have more if I’d like to. Having said that, I think I would be scared to tell my family if I was expecting another babe so I’m clearly not totally healed, got a good dose of “fear of man” to deal with still 😉
Ahhhh I am so glad I found you!! I am an author, my husband and I just had our third child a month ago and I so needed to read this!! Thank you so much. You know, at times us busy mothers feel like we aren’t doing enough and never enough time for anything. And like a lot of mothers, I am stuck homebound with no fellowship, especially after having a newborn, and we have a 9 year old and a 6 year old too. Thank you for your encouragement, I will most definitely keep reading your awesome posts. God bless you today.
Pingback: It’s going to happen…