what is our purpose as mamas?

Have you ever felt like you were supposed to be doing more than just being a wife and mama?


For the longest time I felt such a pull to do something in ministry. To lead a women's Bible study, or help out with the teen girls ministry at church, or find something that was serving the community. Yet, it seemed as I prayed about it and thought I received the answer or felt at peace about a decision, it didn't work out, people didn't show up, or right before something started I didn't feel so sure about it... So what was the pull I was feeling?


Flash back to last year, when our adult small group ended after two years, it felt like there was an emptiness that needed to be filled. I met with our high school pastor at church to talk more about leading a small group for the teen girls. I had been praying about an opportunity to do something like this for a while and it seemed like such a great idea. Quite honestly, I missed the times I worked at Chick-fil-A talking with and encouraging the teen girls there and thought it would be a great opportunity. I was so excited and joined in on a couple fun Sunday nights we do with the teens over the course of the next few months. As it grew closer to begin going consistently I started to feel uneasy about the decision. I felt convicted that my time was being consumed by working a few hours a week at a chiropractor office I'd started at in January, or by all the sessions I was taking on with my photography business, leaving less and less time for me to fulfill my first ministry - my home. I prayed about it and talked to Colin about it, and we came to the decision I'd email our high school pastor and let him know that I'd be backing out as I needed to focus on being a mother and wife first. It's amazing to see how God works once you listen and lean into what He's saying. The following morning after Colin and I talked, I took a random pregnancy test (as one does when you're two days late)  and to our utter shock and absolute joy it was positive. Completely unplanned by us (but so very planned by God) it seemed like an answer to the decision we'd made. Ever since we had our youngest we had prayed about it and left it up to God on when we'd have more babies. We didn't "try" this time around, but we also didn't prevent it at all. We had complete and utter trust that if we were to have more children He'd bless us in His timing.


That was the eye opening I needed. My first ministry is my marriage and raising our baby girls. To continually grow in my relationship with Christ. I knew that all along. I chose to let my own ideas lead the way instead of leaning into what God was telling me. In a pursuit to look for a purpose or ministry to dedicate my time to (because I thought that's what I was being called to) I'd lost the whole point of where God had me now - my role as a mama. My home is my family. My family is my husband and children. I wasn't fulfilling that calling. I wasn't fully focusing on our home life and ministering to our children in the ways we're called to because I had set my mind to the fact that it wasn't enough, that I needed to be doing something more. A lie we're told.


The truth is, it's okay to be in a different stage of life where you can't volunteer at church, or be as involved within the church as others around you. We have an incredible responsibility as mothers and it does not go unnoticed by God when we live our lives by the simple day to day of motherhood. I'm not perfect at it, but it is a comfort knowing that my purpose is rooted in the role God gave me as a mama. Some days are easier than others to find the joy in motherhood. Just know, you're not alone in those tougher days. The days your toddler decides she knows best, or forgets to poop in the potty and instead poops in her underwear. The days you choose not to go out to run errands as the kids are testing every ounce of your patience and you can't handle another meltdown in the aisle. It's all part of His plan. We're there to guide and teach our children and I can say it is the hardest but most rewarding thing at the same time. God hears the small or quick "Lord give me strength" prayers, He hears the cries from our heart when we're at our wits end. It's in those times when we lean on Him the most that we feel a peace and sense that we can somehow make it through. Just as we are for our children, God is always by our side along the way. Take comfort in that. Be encouraged that every season has its ups and downs - it's tantrums and meltdowns. It’s sleepless and lonely nights. Being a parent is just as much a discipline for ourselves as it is for our children.



We're doing Kingdom work.



-- A few verses that have encouraged me in my walk with God as a mama --


Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Deuteronomy 6:5–9

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

1 Peter 5:6-11

  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.