The vigilance of motherhood can be exhausting, always planning and thinking two steps ahead in order to anticipate our children’s needs. It’s easy to get caught up in the expectations that we have to be all things to our kids.
What if we were intentional instead of vigilant, though?
What if, instead of trying to meet all of our children’s needs ourselves, we used every opportunity to point them to the one who truly can?
And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, NLT)
This Scripture paints a wonderful picture of how to be an intentional mother. It’s all about committing ourselves wholeheartedly to the way of Jesus and raising our children up to follow it. It’s a beautiful portrait of simply incorporating the things of God into everyday rhythms, of making the most of each moment. We’re instructed to talk about the heart of God at home and on the road. To show our kids who Jesus is when we’re getting up and going to bed. To simply commit ourselves to knowing Jesus and then showing him to our kids in everyday moments.
Intentional motherhood isn’t about solving every problem, planning every activity or anticipating needs before they arrive. It’s about using every moment we’re given, whether mundane or magnificent, to point our children’s hearts to Jesus.
Questions:
- What are some ways that you share your faith with your kids?
- What ordinary moments might be opportunities to be intentional?
- Do you put pressure on yourself to be vigilant? Does the idea of being intentional instead of vigilant bring you peace?
Kelsey Lasher (kelseylasherauthor.com)
