A Calling?

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So. I sat down yesterday to write a post and got completely stumped. I’d write three paragraphs, delete them, write three more, and then
delete those. I knew what I wanted to say, but for the life of me I couldn’t figure out how to do it. I thought maybe I should give up the particular topic I was trying to write about and pick something different. Then I saw this during my morning scroll through Facebook:

You are as much serving God in looking after your own children, and training them up in God’s fear, and minding the house, and making your household a church for God, as you would be if you had been called to lead an army to battle for the Lord of hosts. ~ Charles Spurgeon

This speaks to me in a powerful way. I have been a wife and mother for a pretty long time now. I’ve carted little girls to dance class, soccer, story times, and play dates. I’ve home schooled and I’ve been the classroom parent. I’ve chaperoned field trips and hosted sleepovers. I’ve matched more pairs of socks than I can count and I’ve cleaned up more messes than I ever thought possible. I’ve laughed with, cried with, and prayed with my girls. I’ve loved every minute of being a wife and mother – even getting puked on, even scrubbing toilets, even tough teenager moments. My heart has been in it from the start. But, here’s the thing – and this is the part that really gets me – I’ve never considered my role as a wife and mom to be a calling. Important, yes. But a calling? That sounds so…spiritual. And yet, I totally believe that I’m doing exactly what God wants me to do. That I was created to be Katie, Becky, and Allie’s mother. That the most important thing I can do for my girls is to teach them who God is and show them how they can know Him. Yes, I think I get it now, that being a stay at home mom has indeed been my calling.

We’re all called to do different things, you know. And I do believe that some moms are called to work outside their home. Thank God that He calls women to careers in medicine or ministry or teaching, and countless other jobs too! This post isn’t in any way promoting stay at home motherhood as the best way to do things. It’s more about the realization for me (and maybe for you too) that raising my children is important to the Kingdom of God. We all need confirmation and validation – and to see those words from Charles Spurgeon waiting to greet me this morning was like God Himself whispering them in my ear. I recently saw this quote and it goes right along with what I’m trying to convey here:

“Our greatest contribution to the Kingdom of God may not be something you do, but someone you raise.” ~ Andy Stanley

Don’t you just love that? I hope that as you match those socks or wipe that little nose or deal with a moody teenager you appreciate and understand that what you are doing is IMPORTANT, and WORTHY, and VITAL. It’s not just a pair of socks – it’s your commitment to love and care for your family. It’s not just another clash of wills – it’s training your child in the way he should go. And it’s not just another day at soccer practice – it’s giving your child the opportunity to learn and grow with your guidance and support.The biggest part of the raising of our children is teaching them who God is and showing them how they can know Him.

God says in Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (NASB)

It doesn’t mean our children will grow up into perfect adults, but it does mean that what we teach them will always be part of who they
are. My greatest prayer for my girls is that wherever they go in life they’ll bring glory to their Maker. Wiping their noses and redirecting

their sour attitudes may seem like an insignificant contribution to the Kingdom of God – but that’s just our human nature talking. God sees
every little thing and knows how each task we do, and each conversation we have with our children fits together to create the people we are
raising. Colossians 3:17 says this: