This house has seen some messes. With kids, I think mess is inevitable. Without a little mess how do we ever have a need to rely on faith? If we are always able to accomplish everything every day, we may think we are perfect and powerful all on our own. God does not need us on our own. He gave us children. And, the mess of motherhood is part of the growth process.
” For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:10
The Mess of Motherhood as Growth
The mess of motherhood is unique-it makes us feel all-powerful and completely weak all at the same time. We birth life-literally-and yet are stumped and challenged by that life on a daily basis. I thought I would have all the time that I wanted to get my work done. The dishes would be clean, the laundry folded AND put away, the rugs vacuumed perfectly. My children teach me otherwise.
I had no idea that in order to be a better mom, I had to be pushed off of my agenda and recognize who is in charge. We cannot reach farther into faith if we are never pushed off of our confidence.
“And me? I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing: make something of me.You can do it; you’ve got what it takes-but God, don’t put it off.”Psalm 40:17
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”Hebrews 4:15
Sometimes the messes are caused by the children, or the time that it takes to care for the four of them. Sometimes, though, the messes are all my fault. I forget my priorities, my needs get confused with wants, and I skip my necessary duties to focus on something “fun”.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.Proverbs 31: 27-29
The Beauty in the Mess
My mess means there is life in this house, there is food and there is work. No boredom can take place when there is more to do than time allows.
There are children playing and babies needing my time. There is a marriage that needs to be tended and if that means dirty dishes meet me some days when I wake up before the sun, then that is when I will deal with them. My story is my mess-the life that is being a mom-and the sweet lessons that have come from my children in my life.
Reality of the mess of motherhood
Mess is not always related to being lazy. Mess is always an opportunity to reach for something much greater. To be strengthened to find faith and rely on it. To trust that I am not enough. I need Jesus to strengthen me. In the mess is life and love and time spent.
This post is featured in A Complete Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms: When You Need to Connect in Faith. Read all of the articles about faithful motherhood.
Enjoy the mess and all that comes with it.
This is the final day of The Ultimate Guide to Baby’s First Year organized by the awesome Dayna at Lemon Lime Adventures. Today, we are sharing Stories about Baby.
Stories about Baby
Lemon Lime Adventures
Trust Me, I’m a Mom
Powerful Mothering
Children Have Only One Childhood {Free Printable}
Bare Feet on the Dashboard
Conceiving Piper
La Cité des Vents
Let The Journey Begin
Thank you, I'm appreciating the mess in my laundry room right now!
Ha, Melissa! It's all about the appreciation, right?! 😉 I hope it doesn't get you down. Laundry is a never-ending process here.
Does it help to know that when I was a full-time mom "in the trenches", I could not find the laundry room floor at my house (EVER!) and that there were plain, very unattractive cardboard boxes filled with toys around the entire living room wall perimeter??? Does it help to know that ketchup spilled on my kitchen floor might stay there until I could no longer identify what it used to be and that it then was stronger than super glue when finally trying to remove??? Does it help to know that I chose the color of my living room furniture based on the color of the dog so that I don't notice my lack of diligence in vacuuming? (It creates too much stress!) If so, here's the good news: There's plenty of time to be that Proverbs 31 woman when the babies are grown and I fervently believe her little "tale" in Proverbs is a reflection of her ENTIRE life and not just her "mothering years." I wouldn't trade a day of watching my daughter dance a solo at a dance competition or a day of watching my son play varsity football or a day of watching my youngest son march as a "quints drummer" for a cleaner floor, a less cluttered living room or a hairless dog for all of eternity. One day you will be so proud to watch that child graduate and move on to become the person God meant them to be. Hang in there, Mom!
Great message, MaryAnn! I think we all have different comfort levels with mess and that is really what it is all about-as you mentioned- making sure our priorities are our family first and balancing that with what we need to get done in a day. I appreciate your being so candid and thoughtful in your comments. They are so beneficial to those of us with little ones still. All the best to you!
Thanks for sharing a great message. I keep trying to fight the mess, but I'm glad to know the fight is faith-building!
Oh, yes! It really is faith-building. It is "just" mess, but it seems all of life has some messy aspects to it. I wish you well and thanks for stopping by.
When I saw your pictures, it thought you came into my flat while I was out running some errands, and took pictures of my sink and the children bedroom. And then, I saw your sink have two parts… Not my house but pfou! Such similarities! Guess we are kindred spirit in the mess our children can create. LOL
Eolia, you are too funny! It is amazing how much mess can happen in a house with children, isn't it? Keep us busy I suppose! 🙂 Take care!