What is your mama purpose? What is the meaning in your mamahood?

Do you ever feel like you are in a rut? You do the same things day after day and your same routine never changes. The same pile of dishes is on the counter, the same clothes get washed over and over again. You are driving your children to their different activities each week, and yet you can’t see your mama purpose in any of it..

a dead leaf, representing the drabness of winter

I don’t know if the weather affects you, but it is during this time of the year that I feel like this more than any other time. During the winter we don’t see much sun, there are no birds singing, and as I look out my window all I see is dead, brown grassland. It is a harder fight to keep my spirit going during the winter. I am more tired and there are more days when I would just like to wrap myself up in bed like a cocoon and not come out.

More of these winter days I am asking myself if this is all there is. Is this all my life is meant to be? Am I really making a difference in my children’s lives, or making a difference in the larger world? It is so easy to get bogged down in this depressing sludge of thought.

Every morning I wake up, get my cup of coffee, spend some time with the Lord, do the laundry, play with the dog, wash the dishes from the night before, then get into schoolwork with the kids. In the afternoon, we go to whatever activities are happening that day. At night we come home, eat supper and go to bed. I catch myself asking,” What is my mama purpose of all this?”

During my five years of singleness, I desperately prayed for a family. I couldn’t wait until I had children of my own. When I was pregnant with my son I remember my best friend telling me to remember my days of boredom, because once my son was born, they would disappear. I am literally living my dream – I am a mama. So why in the world am I not happy?

But this morning something happened to make me start looking for a way to get out of this slump again. My kids brought me breakfast in bed. This was the first time that they had ever done that. They came up with the idea last night while we were on our way home from hockey, and they were so excited about it. They shared their idea with their daddy, and he helped them make eggs and toast. It made me realize once again that I have two wonderful children. Beyond the bickering, arguing, and irritations between them, I have two children with beautiful hearts.

They are the answer to so many desperate prayers. They are God’s gift to me – children perfectly chosen to be my responsibility. I have a divine calling – to raise my children in the love of the Lord.
But how exactly do I do that in the midst of the everyday chaos of our lives? Does all the dishwashing, laundry, cleaning, teaching, and chaffeuring matter? How do I find a purpose in all of the craziness?
First I go to the Scriptures.

Scripture

Psalm 127:3 – “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man(mama) who has his quiver full of them. My children are the greatest blessing that He has given me this side of heaven and beyond Himself.

Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 – “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” He is the reason that I do this – in my motherhood, I am giving glory to God.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

Proverbs 1:8-9 – My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother. For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck. God has given me the responsibility to teach my children His commands and to teach them to love Him.

Prayer

Second, I pray. Most of the time my prayers sound like, “Help!” or “Take my eyes off myself and show me how to serve you today.” or “I don’t have the strength to do today. I need your strength.” And the awesome wonderful thing is the Lord answers everytime. I keep going through my day and usually several hours later I find myself remembering my prayer and realizing that I’m out of my funk.

Look for the small and beautiful

Lastly, I look for the small things that I can smile about. My children made me breakfast in bed. Super Stuffy still wants to cuddle together while we read. Bear Bear loves to come and give me hugs in the middle of the day just because. I am living my dream – and I am blessed.

I would like to cuddle up in my blankets like a cocoon and not come out

Does this mean that I am always happy? No way. I still have lots of days where I would just love to hibernate.

But this helps me to remember that my mamahood is the greatest gift that I have. Even though I go through the same routine every day and every week, my purpose comes from the Lord, and He promises that He will give me the strength and the ability to be the best mama that He created me to be.