Last night while I was falling asleep my mind was drifting to the comments I sometimes get when people realize that we will soon have four preschoolers.
“Better you than me.”
“You must be so busy.”
“How do you do it?”
I’ve struggled with this (and continue to). While teaching is a natural for me, housekeeping and mothering (in the sense of being on call 24/7/365) are not. The daily discipline of following a schedule and choosing what things to train on in a given week is as much for me as for the children. It’s hard.
Last night though I realized that there are three questions I need to answer. These questions are the same three that need to be answered by anyone considering a job, a career or just a pattern of life.
1. Is it possible to glorify God in this job or profession?
2. Can I personally glorify God in this job or profession?
3. Is this the job or profession that I am called to as my vocation?
1. Is it possible to glorify God in this job or profession?
I would argue that there are some jobs and professions in which it is not possible to glorify God. Any business that is based in exploitation of other people or the creation, anything that tends toward reducing our ability to reflect the image of God would not be appropriate occupations for the God-follower.
2. Can I personally glorify God in this job or profession?
Do I have the gifts and training as well as the moral fortitude to bring glory and praise to God in this particular setting? Will I be able to turn to him for grace or will I be easily persuaded by the atmosphere and environment to lower my standards? Some situations are fine for my friend or brother but are not healthy places for me.
3. Is this the job or profession that I am called to as my vocation?
Is this job or profession the place that I am to spend most of my life? Is it my vocation (was I created for this particular place as my life’s purpose) or is this simply a stepping stone to my vocation?
As I look at my own life I can see that the answer to all three of these questions for me is “Yes!”. As I look back over my life I can see clearly the steps that led me here and the ways in which God has fulfilled the longings of my heart to give me a family. It isn’t really that this season of my life is “easy” or “natural” to me. I have to think in order to mother and love the children in the ways they need to be loved. Many times I would really like to send them all of to daycare or school and have a little peace and quiet to pursue my own interests! Getting the opportunity to read a book or write a blog post uninterrupted is difficult right now.
I do think though that God is able to perfect my weaknesses and to make it possible for me to glorify him in the vocation that I have.
Dear Kyndra,
This is precious! And I agree completely with you. In fact, that is my life. hahahaha!
Training up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, while practicing the arts of homemaking and hospitality is such an incredible way to glorify the Lord. And it grieves my heart to see so many that don’t understand the potential for ministry through the faithful walking out of this calling on our lives. I truly believe there is NOTHING more important that I could be doing during this season of my life. Thank you so much for making such a powerful statement of faith! And thank you SO much for linking up!!! 🙂