Photo by James Wheeler on Unsplash
I have been reflecting on God’s goodness in my life—something I don’t do enough of. Recently, the blessing of parenting has come to mind.
I remember when my kids were very young and life was busy. I was in the epicenter of my parenting days. And although I loved being a mom, I often felt less than because I wasn’t working or building some kind of career. I mean, what was my college degree for? I even went to work part-time when my kids were a little older because I felt that pull. It was a wrong decision because I was overwhelmed with juggling everything.
But God had a plan beyond my stay-at-home years…I was just impatient and feeling less than. A lie we buy into from our culture, but also a lie we tell ourselves.
God wanted me to enjoy those days of mothering that eventually came to an end. It goes by quickly. I enjoyed much of it, but instead of really concentrating on the present, I was always selfishly thinking about my future. What about me?
Now, I smile because God has given me a wonderful writing and editing career in my empty-nester years. I am learning, growing, and being challenged in so many new ways. And I also laugh, thinking, why did I doubt that being “just a mother” was somehow putting a hold on my life? Those years have not only molded me into a better person but have also given me the richness of words I use daily in my writing work.
Children are gifts. God wastes nothing by adding them to our lives. Looking back, I wish I had enjoyed those years more. I wish I didn’t think about my future or what I was missing out on. God had a plan for me all along. Raising children was not a pause or an exit ramp off that plan. It was His will for my life.
One thing I do know is that if my writing career ends. It ends. Although it is fulfilling now, it is fleeting. The words I put on paper are momentary. But the value of those parenting years, then and now, is the foundation on which a legacy is built.
If you are reading this and are in the thick of those parenting years, remember you are in the highest of highs in your “career”. Treasure every day. Even those I-am-so-exhausted days. There is no greater investment than in the lives of our children. One day, God may give you other skills or interests to pursue. It is okay to dream beyond your present years. But take it from someone who often failed to understand—nothing compares to the joy and fulfillment of raising your children. It’s a blessing not everyone gets to experience, so don’t take it for granted.