Recently, I was washing up the dishes in the routine way I’m used to doing so often, night after night. I was thinking of the children and all that their needs require. As they grow older, I’m not sure they really do get any easier, because some of the challenges grow bigger, requiring more emotional energy and stamina as a mother!

Despite my achy legs from standing in the kitchen doing food preparation, perpetual tiredness, and a Cinderella list of things-to-do towards the end of the day, God allowed me to have a profound moment in the midst of my ordinary night. 

I had an image of an artist thoughtfully and meticulously working on a complex, intricate painting. Any masterpiece of art takes time and investment. From initial sketches to the first dabs of paint, the best artwork takes days, weeks, months, even years to develop, and the layering, texture, and style of the piece depends on the intricacy of the details. 

As mothers, children are our masterpieces. Just like the world’s most popular, cherished paintings, our babies and young ones take days, weeks, months, years to develop. And when we are willing to nurture our little ones to see their potential, God grants us His supernatural perseverance to keep going in this marathon of motherhood.

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those who have young.

Isaiah 40:11

So just when you think you can’t give any more, press on Mama! You can do this mothering job which God has placed before you with the love, thoughtfulness, gentleness, and patience of the true Artist. What seems repetitive in your routine creates stability, what appears to be mundane provides a nurturing environment for your children, and what stretches your emotional capacity fills your little ones with confidence as they learn grace and love through you, their mama.

No day that we live for God is wasted in His kingdom perspective. Sometimes, we are tempted to think raising children will never end or that somehow they are growing too slowly in learning life’s lessons. Fear not! If we are committing them to God’s plan and seeking the Holy Spirit’s counsel in how we mother our children, we can rest assured that they are growing up well, just as they should. 

The repetitive time, love, kindness, grace, forgiveness, and comfort we continuously extend to our little ones and big ones will help create the masterpiece of our motherhood efforts. As we daily choose to give our lives to God’s ways, the steadfast heart of each mother’s sacrifice will help create an eternal legacy, displayed in the beautiful masterpieces of our children’s lives.

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6