I watched my bleary eyed daughter Michelle stumble out of her bedroom – toussled hair, flannel pj’s with her new little daughter, Mya, craddled in her arms. This was now my 8th day of “helping out” with the new baby and their 2 other boys, Matthew aged 7 and 18 month old Austin, and I was also getting tired.  I walked up to her and said, “Sweetheart, did you know you have the hardest and most important job in all the universe?”   She looked at me questioningly, but I continued, “It’s true”, I said, “you are investing all your time, love and energy into shaping 3 little souls to be all that God created them to be.”

In the moment it was hard for her to believe. But I knew I was speaking truth, because I had been watching her all week.  I was also experiencing the constant routine of preparing meals, cleaning up the kitchen, changing endless diapers, running baths, reading bedtime stories, preparing snacks and feeding a washing machine that never stopped.  What value is there in that? When do you see the results?  When is there time for fun or spiritual refreshment? When does the mess ever end? 

My eyes have been re-opened to the overwhelming demands on young mothers. I want to say right now, “I see how difficult it is for you to find quiet time for spiritual refreshment and new Holy Spirit strength. I see the repetitious demands that see no immediate fulfillment or end.”  More than ever I am compelled to find ways to encourage young mothers to keep on keeping on – you are doing valuable, lifechanging Kingdom work. Training up a child “in the way that it should go” seems consistently tiring without immediate results, but hang on.  You will be able to look back some day and see the hand of God in everything you modelled, all the stories you read, every lullaby you sang and each prayer you prayed with your little darlings.  Right now I salute every mother with small children and say, “I am so very proud of all of you – don’t get discouraged!”

God chose your little darling before the foundations of the earth were formed – and He has a plan for that little soul. You are the provider, sustainer and gate-keeper for this precious masterpiece. Handle with love and care – you are doing valuable Kingdom work.