A Thankless Job
Mother's Day is one of my favorite holidays. I love it. I celebrate the day by doting on my mother with nice gifts and heartfelt words, and my daughter does the same for me. I'm glad someone thought to set aside the second Sunday in May to recognize moms.
But I didn't always feel this way.
There was a time when I absolutely dreaded Mother's Day. I loved celebrating my own mother, but when I couldn't live up to the standards of being the super mom I'd conjured up in my mind, I got discouraged.
I was trying to raise my daughter, thrive in my career as a journalist, go to church twice a week, pray and read the Bible an hour every day, and it just got to be too much.
But one day while I was cleaning my bathroom and complaining to God in prayer about my situation, He spoke two words to me that changed my thinking forever.
I said to Him, "God, this is a thankless job" (I was talking about being a parent), and kept sweeping the floor. Moments later I heard His reassuring voice: "Thank you."
At that moment I knew God was pleased with me, but He didn't want me stressing out trying to be some sort of pseudo-wonder woman. In just two words, He transformed my thinking and helped me see His faithfulness to my child and me.
Proverbs 31: 28, 31 says "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates" (NKJV).
If you're trying to be some kind of super mom, don't waste your time. Motherhood is about selfless giving, unconditional love, commitment, perseverance and so much more, but not perfection.
It may seem like a thankless job, but it's not. Rest assured, God sees your labor of love.
Happy Mother's Day!
But I didn't always feel this way.
There was a time when I absolutely dreaded Mother's Day. I loved celebrating my own mother, but when I couldn't live up to the standards of being the super mom I'd conjured up in my mind, I got discouraged.
I was trying to raise my daughter, thrive in my career as a journalist, go to church twice a week, pray and read the Bible an hour every day, and it just got to be too much.
But one day while I was cleaning my bathroom and complaining to God in prayer about my situation, He spoke two words to me that changed my thinking forever.
I said to Him, "God, this is a thankless job" (I was talking about being a parent), and kept sweeping the floor. Moments later I heard His reassuring voice: "Thank you."
At that moment I knew God was pleased with me, but He didn't want me stressing out trying to be some sort of pseudo-wonder woman. In just two words, He transformed my thinking and helped me see His faithfulness to my child and me.
Proverbs 31: 28, 31 says "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates" (NKJV).
If you're trying to be some kind of super mom, don't waste your time. Motherhood is about selfless giving, unconditional love, commitment, perseverance and so much more, but not perfection.
It may seem like a thankless job, but it's not. Rest assured, God sees your labor of love.
Happy Mother's Day!
posted by Valerie G. Lowe at
5:28 AM
4 Comments:
Thank you for the reassurance. Even though my children are grown and married, I still try to be there for them whenever they need me. Rest assured they still (as parents themselves) need me. Thank you Lord!!
Thank You for the statement of reassurance. I to have felt that being a Mother is a thankless job. Especially after raising my oldest son(22) who has strayed away from the family, and seems to have no care or appreciation for all that we have done in the name of love to help him succeed in life.
It is discouraging but I just keep praying.
AL, Miami, Florida
I also thank you for your reassurance. I have always tried to be there for my children, which are grown and on their own, but wonder if they appreciate what I have done for them. I tried to raise my children in a Christian home, with little support from their dad. My youngest daughter seems to only see negative things in me (and says that Christians are hypocrits), but thinks her dad 'hangs the moon'. It truly feels like a thankless job.
I appreciate those words of Divine Encouragment "THANK YOU" coming from the Lord to not only you but to all of us parents. I have 2 grown girls and my husband died 3 years ago in 2005 when one had just finished High School-17 and one had stray away to another townshe was 20 and it's hard even though they are grown to feel like you are appreciate by them because they still need me and I still do for them but sometimes it feels like I am wasting my time. But I try to do it in the Name of Jesus so I willn't feel like that.
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