Five Quotes from “Motherhood Matters”
An avid political hound, my husband listens to the news several times a day. For instance, before starting work in our home office he plugs in his radio ear buds, turns the TV on, switches on his iPhone, and then fires up his laptop. Plugged into lots of lively debate on every “issue du jour” he’s a happy camper!
Although he’s a vibrant Christian, e-Dad enjoys tuning in to the conservative Jewish pundit, Michael Medved, and a rabbi by the name of Daniel Lapin. Jokingly, e-Dad refers to Rabbi Lapin as his “personal rabbi.”
My Personal Rabbi
Well, I have a “personal rabbi” too—Dr. Albert Mohler. I follow his weblog with great enthusiasm. He’s not really Jewish, but instead he’s thoroughly Christian, and president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Al Mohler writes fearlessly from a biblical worldview about issues pertaining to the “culture wars.” After
e-Dad, he’s the finest thinker I know.
Nearly thirty years together, Albert is married to a lovely woman named Mary—who happens to be a fine thinker like her husband. Al and Mary have two grown children named Katie and Christopher. Mary wrote a wonderful article for the Journal of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood entitled, “Motherhood Matters.”
Encouragement for Stay-at-Home Moms
If you’re a stay-at-home Mom, I encourage you to read it. In her no nonsense way, Mary offers practical encouragement for women who are running the long-distance marathon called motherhood. Here are five meaningful quotes from her article.The Hand that Rocks the Cradle …
1. “Motherhood is an incredible calling and has been called the most honored, cherished, important job there is. The notion that motherhood is the preeminent force for change in the world is captured in the oft quoted William Ross poem with the line, ‘The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.’”
2. “Somewhere along the way, society lost the respect it once had for mothers. I am certain that our grandmothers and great-grandmothers didn't face this problem. Too many moms today feel unappreciated by society as a whole. Perhaps it is due to the fact that moms don't receive a report card or job evaluation sheet. Perhaps others cave to the pressure to believe that performing the ‘menial’ tasks associated with motherhood is nothing more than what a daycare worker can do and makes no significant contribution to our world.
Thankfully, most moms don't allow themselves to think that way for long. They save the precious handmade Mother's Day cards. They savor the sweet, sticky kisses. They remember forever how their children's sparkling eyes light up when they spot mom at the door of the church nursery, knowing that no one else will suffice. At the end of the day, motherhood matters because we are charged with the awesome task to train the next generation and, together with their fathers, arm them to be warriors for Christ. It is a daunting task that requires a great deal of energy, wisdom, and time.”
3. “I am quickly becoming a freak of nature. Some of you are freaks like me! Did you know that less than 25 percent of married households have the husband as the sole financial provider? That's just one out of four. June Cleaver and Carol Brady stereotypes are now oddities.”
4. “It is also important to remind you of this: don't let anyone make you feel guilty for doing a full-time job full-time. Husbands should help kids understand that mommy's job is at home. They should be proud, never embarrassed, to be in the vast minority of kids who say, ‘My mom is a mom who stays at home with us,’ even though 75 percent of America's households cannot say that.”
5. “We face moral issues today as adults that our parents and grandparents did not face nor dream of facing. What will our kids be forced to deal with when they grow up? How will they possibly be ready to know how to respond? They will respond by building today upon what they learned yesterday. We have absolute truth found in God's word alone and as we impart that day by day, little by little, we are being used by God to equip the next generation. Isn't that awesome? Does that excite you? It should.”
Would you like to learn more about Mary Mohler? In this four-part interview with GirlTalk, Mary Mohler reflects on her life outside of motherhood as a seminary president; her role as director of Seminary Wives Institute; her involvement in their local crisis pregnancy center; and her love for college football.
Related
Find More Christian Encouragement: Courtney's Wednesday Blog Hop at Women Living Well, Barbara’s Monday quote meme The Week in Words at Stray Thoughts, Tiffini's Word Women Wednesdays at House of Belonging, and the ever-popular Carnival of Homeschooling.
Photos: Inside Southern Seminary, Google Images, mudkat (Flickr)
Up Next—Arts & Culture: Nine Symbols of Judaism
What is your most urgent challenge as a stay-at-home Mom?
15 Comments:
It is a challenge to deal with kids as quickly as they need it. With all our schedules and the constant house work it is so often a struggle for me to deal with their individual struggles fast enough.
This brought tears to me eyes. I've been struggling with this (again) lately so it's always nice to get affirmation that being a stay-at-home mom is a worthy profession. Thanks for sharing.
I'm with Lisa...all sniffly...hmmm...My most urgent need...to keep what's most important (God's opinion and calling on my life) first. Keeping first things first! Some days I feel pretty hen-pecked...and out of touch with reality...well, with the Bible. Some days YOU have been what I needed...a cyber e-Mom to hug me close! Thank you!!
This is heartening. Nowadays I've even heard stay-at-home wives and mothers being thought of as lazy to "sit at home and let a man support them." They just truly don't understand the value and challenges of it.
My biggest challenge? I have many: I can get so involved in other things that sometimes I don't spend much time one-on-one with my kids even though I'm home. I've had to refocus many times through the years on the fact that they are my primary ministry. Plus -- home tends to be the place where you let down your guard the easiest and fail to be the example you want to be before your family. Thankfully they also learn something about apologizing and forgiveness and grace.
One of my biggest challenges was not having that paycheck coming in and totally needing to trust my husband to provide everything we needed and sometimes wanted :) I also struggled with not feeling resentment towards quitting my Master Teaching job to be at home with my oldest so she wouldn't need to be in daycare (she was in it for 12 months from age 1-2). I KNEW in my heart I was doing the right thing and eventually came to have peace about it but sometimes, in looking back, I felt very pressured to be a full time SAHM from the women in my own church (at that time). It was something I struggled with for several months after first taking my sabbatical. I often felt judged for wanting to work and help my husband provide....I embraced motherhood fully and still firmly believe that young children do best with mom at home in the early years BUT...let's keep in mind that in today's culture in the USA where the economy is so bad, some moms really do have to work now....not because they want lavish vacations, etc but because maybe their husbands are in a job that just really stretches them. A lower paying career, etc. Something to keep in mind......
You're never going to believe this e-Mom, but Mary Mohler is my second cousin! I've never met her personally as we've always lived some distance from each other, but I did have occasion to know her parents who were also fine people. My mother has visited their home and keeps in contact.
Small world, huh?
Mac an Rothaich: Yes, you're in the trenches right now. It's hard. Take heart, this too shall pass.
Lisa: It's amazing that in a single generation, SAMs have become a small minority, isn't it? We do need encouragement--even as older Moms.
I'm hoping the pendulum swings back the other way as time goes on. My daughter is definitely planning to be a SAHM. Research shows that most women really would prefer to be at home, especially when the kids are small.
((Hugs)) e-Mom ღ
Bobbi: Here's a tissue...
I know... I understand. BTDT. But you'll make it! Keep your eyes on the prize in the very long-term. You'll hear, "Well done, though good and faithful servant." Here's another cyber hug coming your way.
Barbara H.: You said, "Nowadays I've even heard stay-at-home wives and mothers being thought of as lazy to 'sit at home and let a man support them.'"
A few years ago, I sensed this attitude coming from our son... It hurt. But now that he's looking for a wife, he definitely wants a SAHM. It's a huge challenge to think about being the sole support for a wife/children in today's economy. I applaud him.
I agree, we have to be vigilant to stay focussed on our primary calling as Moms, especially when we have the luxury of being at home after they begin school.
Faith: You raise some very important points, absolutely.
Each couple must decide for themselves and before God which is the best route to go... SAHM, WAHM, part-time, or full-time work. No one can dictate that to us. And the route may change as our kids grow, or circumstances (like the economy) change.
I'm sorry you felt pressured to stay home from the women in your church. That's really hard.
I got the opposite message from extended family, peers, church members, and neighbors: i.e. "You're educated. Why aren't you working?" It's so nice when Moms who have chosen to swim upspream culturally hear that they're making a valuable contribution, even though the dominant message they hear from others is that they are not. That's the group Mary Mohler is addressing her remarks to in this post.
And yes, the trust factor is HUGE. Being a SAHM is a risk, and frankly, sometimes we lose. As SAMs there's a lot to learn about trust, faith, and where we place our security. The whole submission discussion. It's as much--if not more--for the men's sake. Another post for another day...
Blessings!
Tami:
I'm flabbergasted! What is it they say about "six degrees of separation?"
Well, you're thoroughly blessed to have such fine folk in your family. Honestly, I highly respect Dr. Albert Mohler, and I'm convinced his wife Mary is made of equally fine stock. I hope you can get to know them both some day. Tell your Mom I'm super-impressed!
Thanks for stopping by to comment.
Thank you...I needed this, a little tired on this long journey! Great timing for me!
Janette: Keep on, keeping on, Janette. You'll make it. ღ
Via email, Faith said...:
yes...my new church (well, it's not really "new" anylonger...we're in our 6th year) doesn't put pressure on women AT ALL! in fact, our pastor doesn't really address the issue except to say it is a conviction and or preference area and needs to be between the married couple and God. Thank the Lord I have a husband who didn't mind me being at home full time, didn't mind me working full time and now that the girls are older, doesn't mind me at work part time. Yes...the finances for me was where I had to learn to TRUST!!! and God was always there.....it's amazing what the Lord does when we completely trust Him. it was still hard tho :) thanks for all your thots....i'd love to meet you in person some day :)
Faith: I'd love to meet you too! Wouldn't that be something? ღ
Via email, Andrea said...
The Carnival is up... please link to it in your blog to help promote EVERYONE'S hard work.
Thank you
Andrea Hermitt http://www.ahermitt.com
~A vision without a plan is a hallucination!
LINK:
http://nfahm.blogspot.com/2011/03/carnival-of-homeschooling-thanks-for.html
Via email, an Anonymous Reader said...
Thank you sweet one...the post was great. It was my battle cry for so many years, and then I think the knock downs started to make me question....Sunday night as I cried out I questioned all of it...."was it really worth it" "shouldn't I have just gone to work"....oh the enemy came in like a flood...I just wanted to hear that I did one thing right! The truth is the outcome belongs to the Lord...I am just to obey.
Thanks so much...a very timely post for me.
My reply: Ohhhhhhh, I'm sorry you had a bad night on Sunday.
I'm not sure what you were battling, but on occasion I have to remind myself that my kids are sinners and they also have free will. They don't always make the choices I would like.
A good example is Cain and Abel. They had the very same parents... with two vastly different outcomes. (And just one generation away from walking in the presence of God himself!)
I really think that boys are harder to raise than girls... at least for Moms. You've done a VERY fine job. Walk with your head up high!
((Hugs))
lots of good stuff here! I guess I have not thought of it as much that stay at home mom's are more of the exception than the rule.
I wonder if that is why our children are struggling so much more..?? just thinking..yes. You have me thinking:)
xo
Tiffini: Thanks for visiting Tiffini. Yes, you could be right. Kids definitely need their Moms, especially young ones. Sounds like you're a SAHM? That's great.
Blessings, e-Mom ღ
over from house of belonging....loved this post....
been a stay at home for 11 years....three kids....we homeschool and love it....(most days) :)~
when I stay in God's word and keep my eyes on him...my most challenging days are put into perspective....
only when I'm falling up under relative truths that the world hands me, do I stop and sulk for awhile about how hard it can be to stay at home and be fully devoted to my family.
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