Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood Series- The Significance

February 6, 2012 By

***We began this series with pouring out our hearts to Jesus. You can continue to do that this week too, using as many of last week’s printable as you need! This week this series will be posted today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday).***

I have the privilege of living in a culture {Indonesia}, that highly esteems children and everywhere I go I am constantly being told how blessed I am by God to be given many children.  Old men walk up to me and give me the thumbs up sign and tell me, “wah, hebat!” which means basically “way to go!”. I love living in a culture that loves my kids.

It is true, as many of you have pointed out, that motherhood is not an overly esteemed occupation in our day and age in “Western culture”.  It is at best looked at as something to get through, to manage, to tolerate, until we can do other more important things. That is what our culture tells us.  But I want to challenge you to look at it differently.  I want us to look at the significance of our job as mother. 

Titus 2 beginning in verse 4 “….so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

Click here to download this picture as a PDF.

From our very creation (Genesis), we were created by Him to be nurtures instinctually, by the way we were made, our bodies and our emotions.

“And the fundamental mission of motherhood is the same as it always was: to nurture, protect, and instruct children, to create a home environment that enables them to learn and grow, to help them develop a heart for God and His purposes, and to send them out into the world prepared to live both fully and meaningfully. It is up to us to embrace that mission as our own, trusting God to walk us through the details and to use our willing mother’s hands as instruments of His blessings.” -Sally Clarkson, The Mission of Motherhood

So, we as women, inasmuch as we are able, are to be focused on loving and nurturing the children God has given us. It’s how we were created and it is where we will find our greatest joy.

                                                                                                           Source: i.imgur.com via Joy on Pinterest

 

This motherly focus will look different for each of us.  God knows your situation. Many of you have emailed saying that you would love nothing more than to be able to stay at home with your children and invest in them throughout the day, but circumstances have made that impossible. God knows that. Whatever your situation, wherever God has placed you in your life right now, if your heart is focused on loving and nurturing those kiddos, and not on selfish desires, then you are honoring the Lord.

Come back tomorrow for part 2 and this week’s printable! If you haven’t already, I invite you to subscribe! What are your thoughts today?

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Filed Under: Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood Series, God's word, mothering

22 Comments

  • Anonymous

    I agree with your statement about the view on parenting being: “looked at as something to get through, to manage, to tolerate, until we can do other more important things.” To add to that, I was just thinking how many people say to “live” first, find who you are THEN have kids later in life. It’s just so sad that because of this way of thinking, many miss out on the great privilege it is to simply have children and what we learn from them, especially about God’s character. I love this fresh perspective. I’m excited about this series. Thank for the time you put into it!

  • http://mafbarbers.blogspot.com/ Karina

    We just moved to Madagascar (to serve with MAF) and I have also noticed in this culture children are esteemed and valued far more than North America. They love kids here! It is so refreshing. I just wanted to encourage you in this series, to let you know that we are on this journey together. Thank you for your commitment to encouraging mothers out there. I know you blessed as you persevere to make family your priority without forgetting to minister to others.

  • Dayna

    I agree our culture has it all wrong. Children seem to be tolerated and being a stay at home mom is looked down on. I have a 5 year old and a 1 year old. It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my 2nd child that I felt pulled to stay home and feel so guilty that I didn’t feel that with my son. However, I had it in my head that I had to be something else besides just a mother and a wife. I’m so glad I walked away from that and began focusing on my family.

  • SaraP

    Seeing children as something to be “tolerated” in american culture was the focus of a WSJ article this weekend, available online, on how the French seem to bring up more self- disciplined children without the frustration the author sees in herself and other americans.

    I liked how the french don’t use the word discipline but call it education. This reminds me of Michelle Duggar’s perspective, that they use opportunities throughout the day to train, not neccessarily waiting for a tantrum or fight to punish.

  • Tracy Selle

    I love how you point out that every mom has a different situation….and God knows that! My hearts desire is to get up early for a quiet time, but my son has Type 1 Diabetes, and I’m usually up in the middle of the night caring for him. I’m just too tired to get up early. But God knows that and best of all, He understands! Great post!

  • Rachel

    This post brought tears to my eyes. Although I know and believe with all my heart that being a mom is the most important job in the world (one given to me, chosen for me by my Creator), I often find myself caught up in the worlds thinking. Always feeling like I have to DO something “more important” outside of my home, something more prestigious and awe inspiring. Do you know what I mean?! I believe it is a trap, a lie of the enemy to distract me from the thing that could make the most impact in this world…bringing up children who we can then send out like arrows to influence their world. FOCUS is key! And, for me, more time at home. My goal is to “simplify” life so that I can have a heart and mind more concentrated on being a godly wife and mother. Can hardly wait to see the printables tomorrow. Thank you!

  • Heather

    That’s fantastic. I think we in the body of Christ can value the mothering call – if only we would choose to live by God’s word and believe what He has written about it. I’m so glad that you’re pointing that out! Keep it going, Joy! Great job.

  • Kelli Woodford

    Really appreciated what you said in your last paragraph there.
    So many moms who wish they had more of the *commodity of time* to give to their children by staying home with them.
    But don’t we all relate to that?
    I do get to stay home all day with my 7, but I am constantly turning over to the Lord the lack I see in *other commodities* . . . not enough patience, not enough discipline, not enough money, etc. We all lack in many ways. But here’s where I find peace: to trust that, as much as we strive to do them good, and be a nurturer and a loving mother, their ultimate need is the same as ours ~ we need God.
    We can never be for them what He can.
    And since He has us ALL in circumstances that require us to see our lack (whatever the commodity), we can all be encouraged by remembering exactly what you said, “God knows your situation.” He is the One who pours into empty jars, not full ones. And He fills with what *truly satisfies* . . . Himself.

  • http://www.africanfaders.blogspot.com/ Ebfader

    I’ve read your website a few times and always come away feeling so encouraged. I live and work in Sudan and have 3 little boys and it was so good to remind myself tonight of the true gift it is to be home with my boys, homeschooling them and raising them in another culture and country. It’s good to remember how much we have to be thankful for. I am a close friend of Nan Grant who I believe is joining you in Indo very soon. I am so thrilled she will have someone like you to learn from. –Bethany Fader

  • becks

    This series could not have come at a better time. I’m struggling so much. I just can’t seem to get that “heart” for motherhood. I’m a stay at home mom to my three children under 5, but I get so distracted with the attitudes and stubbornness and disobedience of 2/3 that it just turns into survival mode as i lose my focus and just try not to scream at them and pull my own hair out . Thank you for your posts; I am already so challenged and I look forward to reading tomorrows!

  • http://twitter.com/LittleWriterMom Lisa Littlewood

    I appreciate this so much…you offer a very accurate depiction of the way western society views motherhood…if we do not surround ourselves with likeminded women and fill our minds with God’s truths about motherhood I find that I can so easily be distracted by what the world has to say…”Pursue your dreams…Your kids will be fine” is what our culture wants us to believe…and while I do believe we need to find ways to pursue our own interests and passions, we have to be very careful about how much time we are spending on those things while our children are waiting for us…

  • Katie

    I was blessed this past weekend to attend Sally Clarkson’s whole heart mom conference for the first time! She talked much on the Titus 2 women. It was such an encouragement. i feel the stirring to start a mom’s heart group in my neighborhood to build community, support, and friendship with other moms.

  • http://twitter.com/YoungWifesGuide Jami Leigh

    What a great series! I am so excited to see this unfold. We don’t have kids yet but it is something that I am eagerly anticipating. I am always excited to glean wisdom off of lovely women who have a heart to share!

    Thanks for sharing today :) This is my first time on your site, and I’m so glad that I stopped by today! I’m following now :)

  • http://sheriprescott.blogspot.com/ Sheri

    Joy, this is ALL so good my friend!! I’m shouting “Amen” and sending hugs across the miles. Love & Prayers… I’m looking forward to reading more!

  • http://www.roomforpatience.blogspot.com/ Christina Hall

    This is something I truly need and desire to work on. I walk around this house all day long, completing errands and cleaning up, rewarding myself with computer. Still, it’s usually at the front of my mind how much it would mean to my kids to be playing on the floor with with them.

    Before long, the day has gone by and I’ve missed so many moments.

    Thanks for reminding me where to invest my time. :)

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  • http://www.facebook.com/mairismom Daily Striving

    Hi. I love this series. Very nice:)

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