In the {Messy & Mundane}

Another morning of freshly fallen November snow beckoned my children to venture outdoors int the magical world of sparkling snow … a long awaited Canadian moment – the first “real” snow fall of the year, the breaking out of warm snowsuits and  woolen toques, winter waterproof mittens and hand-crochet scarves tied tightly around little faces …

Ahh, the start of a new season of winter.

Beautiful landscapes of mesmorizing ice crystals and whipped cream snow drifts. And the signal to chaotically pull out the winter bins tucked way in the basement.

Winter. A child’s frosty palace and a mother’s true test of patience.

Bundling up half a dozen coats several times a day, pulling on tight winter boots and then tugging them off only five minutes later when someone realized they needed to use the bathroom that very minute … locating the right mittens for the right size for the right hand – or the left? – mopping up soggy puddles of melting snow as multiple pairs of wet boots enter the house, exit the house, enter the house, exit the house … and yes, the warming of hot chocolate to chill their red faces and cold-nipped fingers when they all decide their suits are too soggy and their socks need drying …

And it comes to my realization, as I stir the steamy hot chocolate to ensure all the cocoa is dissolved, that it’s all to easy to patient and loving, kind and considerate to strangers or co-workers, friends or missionaries halfway across the world but if we cannot show Jesus’ love in the every day mess of snow boots and soaked, cold socks and many chilled children, then we are missing the {very important} point.

To patiently pull on a snowsuit for the 15th time that morning and act out with love and a smile is grace. And showing Jesus’ love. It’s the ministry of motherhood in the every day moments and the mundane things like zippering and diaper changing and math grading and dinner prep. And the re-filling of hot chocolate, topping off with marshmallows …

Because “The King will reply,

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ {Luke 25:40}

To show kindness and goodness during the daily life with ones’ family speaks volumes above faking it and just sitting, smiling, shiny and clean, in your church pew week after week. If we are not displaying God’s love in the four walls of our own home, we are fools and working in vain. These precious family members need to see Jesus’s grace and love through our actions and life being lived out – in the messy and the mundane.

Motherhood is a mission field and we, as mothers, need to click into mission-minded thinking. Showing grace and mercy, love and kindness all while teaching history as you homeschool, potty train your two year old and think ahead to what you need to prep for dinner while juggling your baby on your hip – there’s a great test of gathering your strength from the Lord and practically showing your children how we, as Christians, are called to live life.

So you messed up yesterday? We all do. But there’s grace. Great, beautiful grace.
For those ordinary days and regular messes. For the mother who needs to find her strength in the Lord when the day is long and her soul is weary.

Tomorrow is a new day – a new day to start showing love, joy and Jesus in the messy and the mundane.