I was listening to the beloved song Mary, Did You Know? years ago while I was still knee-deep in daily mothering, when the Lord gave me the sweetest encouragement through it. Though I’m not physically weary from mothering anymore {hello, empty nest!}, I now need this encouragement as I battle on my children’s behalf in prayer—and as I fight the enemy’s relentless darts of never-ending-mom-guilt.
Did I do enough? Teach enough? Model Jesus enough? Say the wisest things? Give enough? Play enough? Encourage enough? Love enough? Was I enough?
Isaiah 40:11 was a lifeline to me—especially the last phrase: “…He gently leads those that have young.” Those words still speak life to me… and I pray the Lord will use them and what He has given me below to strengthen you too, dear mama. God is working, leading, and enabling you to mother your little ones.
“Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you.”
Mark Lowry, Mary Did You Know?
I can’t help but wonder about the motherhood of Mary… the one chosen and favored above all other women to love, feed, nurture, change, clothe, rock, and clean up after the Child Messiah.
Did she ever grow weary of her laundry? Did she ever feel that her job—even as the mother of the Christ Child—was just one endless, thankless task after another?
I wonder if Mary ever felt like a failure as a mom. Did she ever lose her temper with her children? Was she ever impatient when the days felt long and supper still needed to be prepared?
Did she ever feel overwhelmed by the sacred assignment handed to her? Did she second guess her mothering decisions? Did she have mom-guilt?
Did she ever feel as though she failed her children—or failed the Lord—because she didn’t stop her work to focus on her little ones? Did she ever compare herself to other women and come up lacking? Did she ever look out her window and long to do something… anything… more than the dishes?
As I pondered this woman who was entrusted with raising the Son of God—and as I sat feeling condemned, frustrated, and unsure of my own mothering—the Lord gave me the following words. They encouraged me deeply then, and still do today. I pray they will be a blessing to another discouraged mama out there… especially during this upcoming Christmas season.
Daughter, Did You Know?
that when you are living in obedience and submission to Me—whatever I’ve given you to do— and when you offer it to Me,
you have an eternal impact.
At home. At work. At school. At church. In your community. And around the world.
Mary did the mundane tasks of motherhood—the thankless, endless ones. What if she had not? What if she had chosen to use her time and influence doing something she considered “more important” than her God-appointed work of mothering?
I chose her because, though she would make mistakes from time to time, her heart was fully Mine. So I entrusted to her the daily, hour-by-hour investment in the souls I placed within her home.
I called Mary.
And I have called you, too.
Right now. To be exactly where you are. Doing the work I have placed in front of you this very moment.
Only I know the eternal significance of much of your mothering. You may never see it, but I do. And I use every bit of it— every task, every tear, every humble offering— for My glory, when you do it unto Me.
Dirty diapers. Dirty dishes. Dirty clothes. Dirty home. Hungry family. Busy schedules. Heavy responsibilities. Hidden tears. Even empty arms.
I will honor Myself through all of it— each act a mission from Heaven— when it is offered to Me.
Daughter, did you know that when you did it unto the least of these, you did it unto Me?
What you do matters.
With love, Your Eternal Father
A word from Ann Voskamp
In One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp writes:
“When service is unto people, the bones can grow weary, the frustration deep… But when Christ is at the center, when dishes, laundry, work, is my song of thanks to Him, joy rains… The work becomes worship, a liturgy of thankfulness.”
And Mother Teresa adds:
“The work we do is only our love for Jesus in action… If we do it to Jesus, for Jesus, with Jesus—that’s what makes us content.”
Mama, did you know…
that serving Christ alone makes us the loving servant of all?
What you do matters. To God. Both now… and forever.
