Manhood to Mission Field

I struggle with being a mom, not with the fact that I am one, but with the reality of doing motherhood. Yes, I clean bottoms, feed bellies, entice minds with books, bible studies and verses. I run. I jump. I sing. I pray. Lord knows I pray. I have to. You, mothers, know what I’m talking about. But sometimes my motherhood rhythm is off and throws off my daily dance. Shoot, on some days I don’t even want to find the rhythm because then I’m forced to dance. I had a day like this on my blogging break in July. Now God can speak any time, I know this, but I think my not being focused on blogging helped me to hear God clearer, differently even from before, about why He gave me children.

Before he always reminded me that I must raise them to be righteous in order to glorify Him. He etched a poem on my heart so that I would never forget that. But in July He said that my children teach me how to deal with others, specifically people with difficult personalities. When I excel on the mission field at home I will be prepared to excel on the mission field in the world.

So the persnickety co-worker is like Joshua who constantly corrects me when I break a rule. And the backstabbing woman who would do anything to get that man is like my mischievous Nathaniel who gets into everything to get to something he wants. And the emotionally-charged woman is like Justus who goes from calm to ballistic when you haven’t fed him in just the right window. My soldier-, scheming- and suffering-type children help me minister to solder-, scheming- and suffering-type adults. Makes sense to me. Aren’t all these adults children in their difficult areas? And isn’t the remedy for children’s behavior a less than adult method? Yeah, I heard God loud and clear and know my training is an apprenticeship specific to some of those God would have me to serve. I never imagined my role in my boys’ manhood training was training for my mission field in the world. But do we ever know how God is going to prepare us for our callings? What lessons have your children taught you? I would love to hear from you.

Copyright 2010 by Rhonda J. Smith

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