Earlier this week, I was chatting with a friend who is a little farther along this mothering journey than I am. She had a smile on her face and delight in her eyes as she told of how the years of training were finally paying off and how she was beginning to see the reward for her diligence in her children’s willingness to help and how they were a delight to be around.
Motherhood is more of a marathon (with plenty of hills) than a sprint, and more often than not the fruits of our labor, the rewards, aren’t seen until much later.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” -Hebrews 12;1
This world has plenty of trappings and temptations to hinder us in our race of motherhood, yet we are called to throw off everything that hinders.
- Phones: How much time are we spending with our eyes glued to the screen rather than on our children?
- Selfishness: Am I modeling the servant heart of Christ, or am I only serving my own needs?
- Bad attitudes: Anyone else struggled with grumpiness this week?
Instead of giving in to those trappings and temptation, let us run the race of motherhood with perseverance knowing we may not see the fruits of our labors until the distant future. Let us draw encouragement from the cloud of witnesses who have gone before us, those who have seen their reward. (And if you are one of the women who is seeing her reward now, please, please, please encourage those of us still in the trenches of the little years. Talk to us with that gleam in your eye that says you are seeing the reward for your work.)
Do not give up! These years of habit, attitude, and character training will pay off if we persevere. Press on, mama, press on!
This post is a Five Minute Friday post.
Definitely a good word. I am now at the end of the kids in home stage and all the time invested and perseverance is paying huge dividends that I could not imagine. Every stage has its rewards and challenges but it is such a blessing to do life with my kids. Thank you for sharing. May you not grow weary in doing good for in due time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up. Gal 6:9 Blessings.
Peggy~ Galatians 6:9 is one of the verses I cling to when the days are hard. Thank you so very much for your encouragement and hope from your own experience. ~Amy
Not a parent, but maybe this is worth something.
This is the reward I see,
where hell is now in session,
and perhaps my words may be
a salutary lesson.
Cancer hasn’t beat me yet,
not that it hasn’t tried,
and the devil may rightly fret;
for to joy I shall decide.
You have the choice every morn
as to where to point the heart
and your influence thus is born;
it’s you who play your part.
We can’t control the state of play,
but with God, we still can win the day.
#28 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2019/03/your-dying-spouse-596-reward-fmf.html
Andrew~ Thank you for visiting and for your stellar poem to remind me God is on my team! ~Amy
Aww! I’m so glad to have found you in the FMF link up! Motherhood is a marathon, for sure. My nest is empty now, but I still love motherhood, mentoring our daughters, hanging out with my grandson, and our two sons-in-love. Hang in there–you’ll feel rewarded at the 10K (when they’re about 10-12) mark, and the 20-mile mark (when they leave home for the college and decide you’re smart again 😉 ).
Anita~ Thank you for visiting and for your wonderful encouragement! Your daughters are certainly blessed to have you mentor them. Wishing you all the best! ~Amy