Can I start off today’s post by just describing my current surroundings? My husband is at home with the baby so that I can have a moment to think, write, and reflect. With this time I decided to come to my new favorite café. The café is divided into sections, and I am sitting in a cozy dimly lit room inside. The room is filled with two oversized leather arm chairs, one oversized leather couch, and two comfy ottomans. There is subtle Latin music playing softly in the background and I have a large cup of coffee in front of me. To put it simply, this atmosphere is divine for a weekend morning writing session. I hope that as you read this, you too can pour yourself a warm cup of something amazing, cozy up with a chunky sweater or throw, and have a moment to yourself.
I haven’t written lately, but I have been doing a lot of thinking over the past few months. I have been thinking about my role as a wife and mother, and what that means to my family…what that means to me…what that means to the world. In short, I have been thinking about my purpose on this earth. In the sometimes routine or mundane tasks of motherhood, I have come to believe my purpose is bigger than it may seem. My purpose is bigger than the dirty diapers I change throughout the day, or the dishes I wash, or the dinner I cook night after night. And while my ultimate purpose is bigger, each task I mentioned is profoundly important in creating the bigger picture of mine and my family’s life. I can say this with new found confidence, because if I were to stop doing any one of these seemingly small tasks, the impact on my family would be profound.
I am one human being, and I only see the things in my life as they come my way, but God sees it all. He sees how all of these smaller and sometimes mundane tasks create the bigger picture of the world and of history.
Could you imagine if all of the mothers everywhere suddenly just stopped changing diapers, washing dishes, or cooking dinner (just to name a few of the things we do on a daily basis)?! I’m not talking about for a time, I’m talking about permanently! Like if no mother ever again did any of these tasks EVER! The world would have an epidemic on their hands. Trust me ladies, what we do is important—even when it may seem we’ve given up larger dreams for the humble life of raising children. But even more important than what we do, is how we do it! Do we change the diapers with love in our hearts, or do we do it begrudgingly? Do we wash the dishes and make dinner with care, or do we slop everything together, longing for the day when we can do something more exciting with our time? How we do what we do can be life changing to those closest to us. As I write this, I am speaking to myself too!
When our children are older, they won’t really remember having their diaper changed, but they will remember how their mothers made them feel. If we treat our children with love, kindness, and respect, they will remember those feelings for years to come. And the way they experienced their childhood has profound effects on the way they engage with the world as adults.
I specifically use diaper changing as an example because it’s something we do when our children are very young; and when they are young is when we should start creating good habits—creating an atmosphere in our home of love, kindness, and respect.
So, with all of this said, this is why I wanted to start this blog in the first place—to talk about what I am learning in motherhood, and to encourage other mothers as well. To put it simply, motherhood has absolutely changed my life! I have never before been more passionate about something. This is my greatest calling. To me, the weight of what it means to be a mother is profound. I have the opportunity and blessing to raise another human life, and who knows who that little life will grow up to be?! Who knows how they may change the world?
So mamas, today as you go about your daily routine, remember the affect you are making on your family and children. You are profoundly important!
