Here is the start of something that was deep in my heart and in due time God brought it out and to my attention that it required a step of faith. This blog post may serve as my “Humility Statement” when I think about the potential expectation that comes with a name like “Mommy Proverb”- So much wisdom and revelation to live up to!
When I think back on times I would refer to the way God spoke to me regarding the wisdom I was seeking from Him. Whether it had to do with the raising of my children or how to navigate the then new challenges of marriage- God was always so preciously faithful to speak these wonderful little nuggets to me that made sense and were easy for me to meditate on though the thick of a very full life.
“Mommy Proverbs” was the only term that seemed to fit. Mommy – because I was a mommy in the middle of long days early days when my kiddos were little and trying to understand the Kingdom purpose of dirty diapers. Sounds deep, I know maybe a little out there, I know. After my first 3 months of motherhood I was experiencing the typical things lack of sleep, insecurities from being raised as an only child and not exactly knowing what to do with a baby, as well as the thought ” what did I get myself into?”.
I loved my new baby, but something started to change when my mom went back home after spending a week caring for my husband and I as I got acclimated to being home with a newborn. A feeling of drifting started to set in as the maternity meals stopped, and the newness of all the cute baby clothes faded. I was really struggling to find the Kingdom purpose in motherhood. I knew God wouldn’t have created such an esteemed role of motherhood just to eat up and chew out any Christian woman who had a desire to have a family and to feel a sense of purpose in raising the next generation and to lovingly guide them. After 3 months of my ears becoming tuned into the endless cries of my baby and the heaps of laundry piling up and countless diapers to change, I really started to wonder “What is the purpose of this all? Was I just supposed to be the caretaker to this little one, just meant to attend to physical needs? Or did God actually have more in mind?” I would soon find out that there was so much more!
I whish I could cue inspirational adventure music as I share this next part of the story because here is where “Proverb” gets is place in the name/phrase that was coined .
After a few weeks of this drifting feeling I was spending some time in what I refer to as the secret place (time spent in prayer, in Gods Word and in fellowship with Him). I was pouring my heart out to the Lord, all the feelings, concerns and questions I had, though none of my questions or request were answered immediately after that time I felt relief of some kind as I had a deep reassurance that I had at least been heard by my Father and that I had indeed been in His presence.
Then after my babies nap I was changing her diaper on a borrowed changing table from our churches nursery, I started to sense that drifting feeling that would result in me later saying “ Is this what my life has come to and will always be? Diapers?!”
Sidenote: I now hear how bad that could sound, as an only child I have never watched someone do the every day tasks a mother does day in and day out let alone with joy or purpose. Being an only and seeing my cousins on special holidays, the mystery of everyday life with kids was unknown to me. As I was then, a kid having to navigate my own life experiences amidst my parents getting divorced and word suddenly changing.
While I was truly wondering “What did I get myself into” and kind of complaining a bit to God again there at the changing table. I’ll never forget what the Lord said to me. “An infant is so cute and wonderful, their diapers don’t even smell bad! Until maturity happens, (when they are no longer solely on milk) that’s when the diapers starts to stink!”
Immediately by revelation started to connect this nugget God had dropped into my mind to consider. I instantly started to think about how exciting it is when you lead someone to the Lord and they become born again! God is constantly speaking to them, they are receiving everything that happens in their life good/bad as a gift from the Lord. But then we the body of Christ, the Church we need to be willing to care for these babes and see them into their maturity. It can start to get a little messy and a little stinky. We know we are forgiven, and from experience we also know all of our old habits and bad ways aren’t immediately lost or changed.
Wow! I think I felt as if I was on could 9 for a week after receiving that parallel application of a very hidden and daily task of changing my infants diaper and God so amazingly connecting it to something for me to consider as I was heavily involved in our churches college student ministry.
Over the years the Lord has continued to give these nuggets of meditation that would and have changed in form but still bless me so much! He truly has shown me the purpose of motherhood, and that purpose is so I can see His kingdom and be a part that have and brings value.
The word proverb means: “A short sentence often repeated, expressing a well know truth or common fact ascertained by experience or observation; a maxim of wisdom” – Noah Websters 1828 dictionary
Here is my “Humility Statement” I truly believe Proverbs 10:27 when it says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy one is understanding.” True wisdom comes only from God. I have always felt so humbled and deeply honored at the fact that God Himself would want to talk to me and share His thoughts with me. I think it most marvelous that we can have access to life changing truth. I don’t in anyway take credit for the inspiration of thoughts shared here on Mommy Proverb. I give all the credit to the Lord who so wonderfully and freely shares His thoughts with me. I’m also grateful that He can and chooses to use and redeem my life and experiences.
Leave a Reply