“So, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness,” Hebrews 3:7-8

Over the past several weeks, we’ve watched a Mama bird build a nest, lay her eggs, take care of them and now, care for her babies after they’ve hatched. She is perched in a little planter/decoration right outside my front door. It’s incredible how protective she is of her babies, she chirps VERY loudly at us whenever we are on the front porch. 

Today, I was sitting outside at lunch and watched her bring food to the little ones several times. She dutifully and cheerfully completed her task. And the babies, who knew every time she was close, responded because their Mama was taking care of them.

It tugged at my heart. This past year has been a bit of a struggle, mostly personally. After losing a job I never thought I would leave, I found myself in a struggle over my worth and value. I have wrapped so much of myself into my professional life, that when it was unceremoniously yanked out from under my feet, I didn’t know what to do. I stressed and worried and lost confidence.

But God.

• He has provided for us in ways only He can.
• He’s taught me to trust that He will continue to do so into the future.
• He’s opened my eyes to see the unmatched value in my being Mom to my kids all the time.
• He’s brought this all to life through conversations with friends and others.

You think your children need you when they are really little. The truth is, they need you more when they are older than that. The more you can be there for them around their middle school years, the better.

My friend spoke those words to me when my son was little and my daughter was an infant. At the time, I couldn’t believe she could be right, but now, I see she was. Being “home” for my son’s fifth grade year and my daughter’s third has been memorable and special. We have had many moments and conversations that would have never happened with me working full-time.

There’s a reason motherhood is so revered in the Bible. The world tries to tell us we need to be this or that, but the truth is, God has given us our children as a blessing and with them comes the duty to raise them to be Godly.

While debating my future, my wise friend spoke truth over this situation. I was struggling over a decision to consider a potential job that would require a commute of at least an hour each way every day. Not to mention the hours at the office. I was wrestling with my own fear over providing for the family, when she hit the nail on the head. God isn’t going to let you falter, she reminded me. He cares for you and when you are in His will, like you are when you are concentrating on raising up the next generation, He will never forsake you. He can’t, that’s not who He is.

The bottom line is that it’s all about the kids.

The funny thing about this comment is that it came up in a job interview. When the potential supervisor said it, it echoed in my mind and rattled my heart. On the way home, I replayed her words, realizing that God was saying that to me to remind me that no job is worth a sacrifice that is too great for my children.

Decision made.

I will trust Him to bring the opportunities and provision that our family needs. Like the Mama bird on my porch, I will dutifully and cheerfully continue to raise up my children to bring Him the glory.