Daily Devotional

A Mom’s work is never done!  When my kids were preschool age, I remember the complete and utter exhaustion.  I worked on the house, dinner and caring for my kids and hubby faithfully.  But it was really hard at times.  Sleep was a luxury.  My plate of food was always cold and no matter how many times I picked up the clutter in the living room—behind me the kids were tearing it all apart. A mountain of laundry was a fixture in the garage. I was tempted to name the mountain of laundry so I could accept the fact it was permanent. I struggled to achieve some sense of accomplishment each day. I worked so hard to be a good mom, but feared I was not.  Every day was the same corrections, instruction, training. In spite of my dear Hubby’s rock of support, I was confused. I thought when you worked hard, you would see the progress. My efforts should produce fruit in my kids’ lives.  At this time, I did not understand, with consistency this type of fruit ripens slowly through the years as the kids grow up.  

In addition, on Sundays, I worked in the Nursery, on Wednesdays I worked in AWANA.  My home had a continuous flow of people, because we lived next door to the Church. My life belonged to everyone.  My needs were last.  Work was my life. In honest moments, I would say I hated work.  Then one day I came across these Scriptures:

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

Col. 3:23 “Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men.”

Hebrews 6:10 “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you do.”

These Scriptures gave me a new and true perspective:

• Work is God’s plan and it is good.
• Put my heart into my work, because it is for the Lord.
• God sees my effort. God sees my love. God will bring the fruit in His time.

Through the years I have come to appreciate WORK. One of my greatest joys is to see that my kids have grown up to be beautiful women of God inside and out. I learned that sometimes I will not see the fruit of my labor right away, and maybe not even for years.  That’s ok with me now, because I know my WORK is for the Lord.

PARENTS:

• Teach your kids that WORK is God’s idea.  Even God works!   Genesis 2:2
• Memorize Col 3:23 with your kids.
• Remind your kids that God sees their effort.

Assign regular chores for your kids with a reward system for their efforts