the monotony of motherhood

If you've ever taken the time to read the back of a shampoo bottle, you'll see these words...wash, rinse, repeat.

Some days, as a mother, I feel this way. But mine would look more like this...clean, feed, repeat.

My days are {generally} filled with sippy cups, diapers, snacks, squinkies, crumbs, and dishes. And let's not even discuss the amount of laundry my sweet family of 5 can produce!

The truth is that motherhood can begin to feel monotonous when day after day, week after week, you are consumed with needy people under 4 feet tall. Let's face it - young children are very dependent and need us for everything...from wiping their nose (and other things!) to fixing their lunch to picking out their clothes.

Having babies forces you to stare your selfishness in the face! I didn't realize how stingy I was with my time, my sleep and my privacy until it was abducted by my munchkins.

But here's the reality of biblical mommy-hood...we have the privilege of not just teaching our kids the gospel, but actually living out the gospel to our babies every single day!

We can demonstrate God's grace to them by loving them when they're unlovable and by being patient with them when we're at our wits end! We can be "slow to anger" and "quick to listen."

we. can. be. the. Gospel.

And that is a privilege that I wouldn't forfeit for anything in this world - no job, no amount of money or luxuries could compare to the joy of being the gospel to my children every day!

Rachel Jankovic on her blog (desiringGod.com) says...

Is motherhood a rock-bottom job for those who can’t do more, or those who are satisfied with drudgery? If so, what were we thinking?

Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.

You represent everything that our culture hates, because you represent laying down your life for another—and laying down your life for another represents the gospel.

We should run to to the cross. To death. So lay down your hopes. Lay down your future. Lay down your petty annoyances. Lay down your desire to be recognized. Lay down your fussiness at your children. Lay down your perfectly clean house. Lay down your grievances about the life you are living. Lay down the imaginary life you could have had by yourself. Let it go.

So the next time I step in an unknown liquid substance on the floor, or read that book for the 5th time in a day, or unload yet another round of clean dishes, or trip on another matchbox car, I pray that God will pour out His grace to me so that, even through the monotony, I can pour out that grace to my kiddos!