I am a Mom. It's the hardest, most purifying, most ennobling work. I feel my weaknesses more sharply. I see God's hand more clearly. I recognize tender mercies more frequently. It is my favorite work. It is exhausting, exhilarating, life-changing.
Especially right now, during the COVID-19 quarantine.
I have always felt that this work is sacred, that it is God's work, but I feel an extra special sacredness now that my whole heart and mind is dedicated to this job of motherhood, more than at any other time prior. I feel His sustaining power, even as I struggle to overcome frustration or heartache. I feel His strength, even as fears, worries, and anxieties fill my heart each day.
Now, more than ever, being a Mom has become a holy work.
I am the chef, house cleaner, teacher, and librarian.
I am the entertainer, media specialist, chauffeur, and protector.
I am the coach, playmate, psychiatrist, and dentist.
I am the nurse, friend, tour guide, and park ranger.
I am the financial manager, family historian, photographer, and baker.
I am the mediator, organizer, planner, and artist.
I am the hair stylist, fashion consultant, and religious instructor.
Some of these responsibilities used to be outsourced, but now, during a virus pandemic, everything falls to my husband and I. We have had to be prayerful, thoughtful, and creative as we care for our children, day by day by day.
I roll out of bed around 5:45 or so. Some mornings it's earlier, if I haven't slept well due to pregnancy pains, and sometimes it's later, if I am completely exhausted.
I pray first. I express any fears, anxieties, worries. I tell Him my plans and ask what He needs me to know or do for that day. And I gain some peace, some courage, some strength. From Him.
I study my scriptures. I exercise. I shower. All part of the routine. Then it's time to be a mommy.
Some mornings there are bouts of children screaming even before I am done with my studying. Some mornings it's perfectly quiet, and I feel like I am all alone in the house. And I hold to those feelings of peace. Moments of quiet and peace are few as a stay-at-home mom.
We go through the day. Moment by moment. Hour by hour. We read, clean, learn, study, play, clean some more. We cuddle after tears. We stop sibling rivalry. We cook. We smile, laugh, cry, sometimes yell. We learn, we rest, we read some more. Finally, it's bedtime. I'm tired. I say my last, "Good night. Love you." And then it's time for some quiet.
While many evenings I feel discouraged or frustrated from the day, and I am always exhausted, I know that the strength to get up and do it all again will come in the morning. Just like it did that morning. Just like it did yesterday morning, and every morning before that. God gives me that strength. Without Him, I am nothing. With Him, I can do this incredible (sometimes impossibly difficult), dream-fulfilling job of motherhood, every day.
Especially right now, during the COVID-19 quarantine.
I have always felt that this work is sacred, that it is God's work, but I feel an extra special sacredness now that my whole heart and mind is dedicated to this job of motherhood, more than at any other time prior. I feel His sustaining power, even as I struggle to overcome frustration or heartache. I feel His strength, even as fears, worries, and anxieties fill my heart each day.
Now, more than ever, being a Mom has become a holy work.
I am the chef, house cleaner, teacher, and librarian.
I am the entertainer, media specialist, chauffeur, and protector.
I am the coach, playmate, psychiatrist, and dentist.
I am the nurse, friend, tour guide, and park ranger.
I am the financial manager, family historian, photographer, and baker.
I am the mediator, organizer, planner, and artist.
I am the hair stylist, fashion consultant, and religious instructor.
Some of these responsibilities used to be outsourced, but now, during a virus pandemic, everything falls to my husband and I. We have had to be prayerful, thoughtful, and creative as we care for our children, day by day by day.
I roll out of bed around 5:45 or so. Some mornings it's earlier, if I haven't slept well due to pregnancy pains, and sometimes it's later, if I am completely exhausted.
I pray first. I express any fears, anxieties, worries. I tell Him my plans and ask what He needs me to know or do for that day. And I gain some peace, some courage, some strength. From Him.
I study my scriptures. I exercise. I shower. All part of the routine. Then it's time to be a mommy.
Some mornings there are bouts of children screaming even before I am done with my studying. Some mornings it's perfectly quiet, and I feel like I am all alone in the house. And I hold to those feelings of peace. Moments of quiet and peace are few as a stay-at-home mom.
We go through the day. Moment by moment. Hour by hour. We read, clean, learn, study, play, clean some more. We cuddle after tears. We stop sibling rivalry. We cook. We smile, laugh, cry, sometimes yell. We learn, we rest, we read some more. Finally, it's bedtime. I'm tired. I say my last, "Good night. Love you." And then it's time for some quiet.
While many evenings I feel discouraged or frustrated from the day, and I am always exhausted, I know that the strength to get up and do it all again will come in the morning. Just like it did that morning. Just like it did yesterday morning, and every morning before that. God gives me that strength. Without Him, I am nothing. With Him, I can do this incredible (sometimes impossibly difficult), dream-fulfilling job of motherhood, every day.
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