Motherhood

This evening, I read an article a friend shared on facebook. It is entitled "Idealized Domesticity." I took away from it a sense that we try to encourage ourselves by talking up the worth of our being at home. It is true that it is worthy. It is true that it is hard work. But honestly, I love that hard work and sacrifice are normal. What I do isn't "exceptional" - it's life. What else would I do, honestly? Even were I employed outside the home, I wouldn't be looking for kudos because I left work early to go home to care for a sick child. I think we sometimes think that as we do that which we are called to do, that which is normal, we think we're earning points with God for our service. I think this article, without doing so directly, knocks the wind completely out of those sails. It's all about grace. We do and offer nothing. God gives us everything. He gives us the good, the bad, and the mundane (and the ugly). And then he uses it all to glorify himself and shower us with love and grace. It's pretty cool, and it's pretty creative. And I am thankful to be a part of it. And it is hard. And I do try to talk myself into that which I need to do, sometimes probably in wrong ways. So it's good to be reminded in articles like this about carts and horses and which is first, and why we do what we do. It's all by grace and there's much yet to discover.