I’m guessing you can empathize with me on this one: Ever feel like you have so many responsibilities as a mom that you don’t even know where to begin?
Motherhood has made me the ultimate multitasker. Baby, I am streamlined!
With three kids three and under, my house is a MACHINE. I am flipping pancakes, talking on the phone, feeding the baby, tying my shoes, and refilling a sippy cup, all while painting the ceiling (okay, kidding on that last one).
At the end of the day, a pillow never looked so good. In fact, sitting and doing nothing can feel uncomfortable, useless. My mom used to have a book with a title I can empathize with: When I Relax, I Feel Guilty.
In light of this, I recently read some wise woman’s interpretation of Romans 12:3:
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”
Now, there are a lot of goodies packed into that verse already for a well-thought of, deeply conceited young woman like myself. But let’s just visit this verse’s more obvious applications on another day!
The author reminded me that overextending myself can be a form of thinking of myself more highly than I ought. I think I can get more done than I can, I think I am needed in more ways than I am—but fundamentally, it’s a shift in thinking.
I’ve gone from,
“Lord, what are the good works you’ve prepared for me to do (Ephesians 2:10)? How can I fulfill my own part of the body of Christ today?”
to
“I want to get this done. I’m needed/expected here. I don’t need to rest (thanks anyway, Lord). I look better by accomplishing more.”
Read this next: 28 Ways to Connect With God When Your Brain Won’t Quiet Down
Suddenly I’ve deftly switched from being His vessel to being my own CEO. I sacrifice the best—including a more quiet life, the time to be with my kids without multitasking, the ability to rest so that I’m a nicer mom, the ability to allow other people to minister, and simple obedience—for the good.
I am in awe of Scripture’s unfolding with new meaning through new seasons of our lives, and I wouldn’t have expected this to pop out here! And clearly, my sinful nature’s getting smarter as the years pass, too.
But God’s Word again proves itself able to thoroughly equip me for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17), which makes it all the more breathtaking for me. What other book takes on such depth and shades of meaning?
I need to fit some more Scripture memory into my schedule. How about you?
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The post was originally published on September 15, 2008
