Lots of people ask what I do here. Well, this is it. I'm a secretary when I make the church bulletins. I'm a worship leader when I try and usher people into the presence of our Living God. I'm a preacher when I speak of my testimony about the ways He is constantly growing me. I'm a youth leader when I lead youth group for three hours on Saturday. I'm a Bible teacher when I open the Word and facilitate conversation. I'm a cook (and a not so good one sometimes...) every Wednesday night for the senior kids. I'm a treasurer when I count the money from the bake sale and keep record of it for our "salesmen." I'm "Public Relations" when advertising for our fundraisers. I'm a janitor when I clean dead lizards out from the air condition vent and sweep up the cookie crumbs from the floor.
And today, I'm a mother.
And I have a mother's love for each of my kids. I am honoured to buy ice cream for them, to correct them when they have accused someone of something that needs to be washed in forgiveness, to encourage them when they lead youth group with their own ideas, to let them be free to ride their skateboards in my house (which is God's), to validate them when they are vulnerable, to welcome them in to discuss matters about whether a lie is a sin or not, to teach them piano, to watch scary movies with them, to cook them breakfast, to teach them how to jump rope and see the joy on their face when they finally succeed, to correct them when they are jumping on the couch, to forgive them when they have apologized for jumping on the couch, to be patient as I help them with their typing homework, to love them with my eyes and words and heart.
But what is still greater is that I am loved in return.
I am a slave to Christ- to righteousness. I am a missionary. I am allowed to be Jesus to these precious children every day. Grace at its finest. I have the honour of loving as I have been loved by my Father, my Saviour. I will fail, as I have already, many times. But they have grace for me. I wasn't here at the beginning, nor will I remain for even but a year, for my time will end a few short months from now. But, if in the end I was used to bring just one life closer to Christ through these things like being a mother, then I was humbled enough to be used. It's all His plan. His orchestration. He knew. He knows.
Lord, use me more every day. Just like today.
"But He answered them, saying, 'Who is My mother, or My brothers?' And He looked around in a circle at those who say about Him and said, 'Here are My mother and My brothers. For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." Mark 3:34-35
Thank you Lord for allowing us know no end to family in the body of Christ. Thank you for all my "mamas", "pops", sisters and brothers. And thank you for letting me be a mother today.
Please pray for my kids. They need more of Him, just like you. Just like me.
