Has it been a while since you opened your Bible? Since you wrote in your journal or spent time alone with God? If you’re in the trenches of parenting little ones, or even older children with significant needs, consider the holiness of the work you’re doing right now.
At what other point in your life will you ever been this in-demand by someone else? At what other point in your life will you ever be this sleep-deprived and consumed with care for another human being? At what other point in your life will you ever be so touched-out and yet still crave their warm little bodies next to yours?
The work you do to care for your children is holy. It is worship and praise and devotion to God. Do we serve a God who considers you more worthy if you have no other responsibilities and sit in a chair and study His word than when you give your life to serve another one of His children? No.
When I was single, I was able to spend hours studying the Bible, praying, doing extended fasts, and even taking spiritual retreats. (What was I retreating from? I’m not sure, but I got away with Jesus anyway.) When I got married and had children, the demands on my time shifted my attention radically.
We had three babies in four years. I don't think I picked up my physical Bible and open it in personal devotional practice for over two years. That is not an exaggeration.
I wasn’t mad at God or rebelling or even ignoring Him. I offered my entire being in worship to God as I focused on caring for the people He’d entrusted to me. My heart was entirely to love and honor God, and at that point in time, I didn’t have the ability to focus on Bible study.
I remember hearing a popular Christian woman teaching about how essential it is to read your Bible every day, and I felt so guilty. I cried out to God in frustration over my lack of focus on Him and our relationship. He responded so lovingly, showing me how the years I’d spent filling up my spiritual tank as a single woman had given me lots of reserves. During the time when babies upended my life, I was able to draw on those reserves.
He showed me that “what I do unto the least of these” applied to caring for my children. The way I served my husband was the way I served the Lord. Feeding, bathing, patting, rocking, walking the floors at night to soothe a fussy baby, caring for them when they’re sick, and loving them well – it’s all PRAISE. The holy work of parenting is beautiful to Him.
Grateful tears as you gaze on sleeping children? Worship.
Growing a garden so you can provide healthy and nutritious food for your family? Praise.
Wrangling them into nice clothes, fixing their hair, and showing up late to church because someone had to go potty right as you got in the car? Sweating through church because they won’t sit still, missing most of the sermon because they constantly demand your attention? YOU ARE GIVING GLORY TO GOD.
My kids are now older and things are different. Even though my youngest needs more from me than most seven-year-olds, I still have time to study and write because I’m well-rested enough to wake up very early and seek God after a good night's sleep. Things will calm down for you, too.
If service to your child looks like loading up syringes of medicine to push through a g-tube, wiping their mouth, and whispering prayers for strength - those quiet acts of faithfulness, done with a heart of worship, glorify God. If what you do is walk the floors every night, praying your baby will stop screaming and finally sleep, you are seen and loved. If you are sitting in your chair tonight, crying because you don’t know whether to take your child to the emergency room or try to make it through one more night at home, God holds you as you hold them. Your praise is music to His ears.
If your child is healthy and your act of worship is simply bathing, feeding, and caring for your child when you're tired and lonely, that's beautiful to your Savior.
Don’t let Satan lie to you and say your offering isn’t enough. Don’t let him crush you with guilt. Love your family well, and let your love be your offering of praise and worship to the God you serve. When you have a chance to sit down with your Bible and a journal again, you will.
For now, clean up their messes and wipe their faces and stop to play a game of tag or go apple picking. Thank God for the gift that you’re the one who can meet their needs, and do it as unto the Lord. Keep showing up to church messy and late. Keep signing up for Bible study groups when you might not have time to do the homework. You are doing holy work. Don't let anyone tell you differently.
Love,
Kimberly
P.S. If you're a music lover like I am, here's a song that encouraged me so much during a very hard time. Listen to the first line. 💖