1. Little A is awake who wakes up baby C.
2. Diapers need to be changed.
3. Baby C needs to be fed.
4. Clothes need to be put on.
5. Next, I need to distract the littles so that I can get ready as fast as possible. (Console baby as needed)
6. We all go downstairs together.
7. I feed little A and baby C.
8. I quickly eat breakfast while little A asks me to play with him.
9. I play with little A and baby C and act as referee between them because they are all over each other
on the carpet.
10. Change little A and baby C again.
11. Put Baby C down for nap.
12. Get little A a snack
13. Clean the kitchen.
14. Play with little A.
15. Wash the bottles.
16. Sterilize the bottles.
17. Get Baby C from his nap.
18. Change Baby C's diaper.
19. Give Baby C a bottle (which he hates, since he's just switching from nursing).
I look at the clock; It's only 10:30AM... and I'm sad to say that I often think I still have to take care of them for another nine hours...
In the midst of motherhood, in the day to day of it, it is so easy to lose focus of what is really going on. Even though I love my children so much, when I'm tired, and drained, and even bored, I start dwelling on just how tired I am, of how much I'm giving of myself, and how sick of the mundane I am. Some people will sweetly remind me of what an important job being a mother is and how my role is unappreciated, and that is certainly true. But here's the question I have to ask myself when I start questioning what I'm doing every day in and out: "Who is my focus on? Me or Jesus?"
When my focus is on me, I get to 10:30AM already feel exhausted and start complaining in my heart about how difficult things are for me and how unappreciated I am. But, when my focus is on Jesus, I get to 10:30AM, still feel exhausted, but can ask Jesus for the strength to get through the day with contentment and joy. The thing is, that motherhood isn't about me. It's about Jesus. It's about how Jesus is sanctifying me through sacrificing my time, desires and attention. It's about how Jesus' love is being given to my children through me. When I remember that it's not about me, and it's truly about Jesus, I can look at each task in the day as though it's an act of obedience to God's calling on my life, a loving service to my children and husband, and a small step towards sanctification.
