I have been a mom now for fourteen years. I’ve changed diapers, wiped tears, filled bottles, and made scores of peanut butter sandwiches. I can bake cookies, do laundry nearly in my sleep, answer “why, Mom” without even pausing for breath – and I love to kiss fat, little baby feet.
And after coming through fourteen years of motherhood and watching many other moms . . . I am convinced there is one lie that will drag us down like no other.
“You’re not doing anything really great.“
It comes when we are bending over the tub wiping little noses. It comes when we are sweeping those dust bunnies from under the bed. It comes when we read about the newest popular speaker and how she went overseas to feed the hungry . . . and we look down at the little one by our side to see their diaper sliding down one leg.
Remember this: It is not God that requires greatness.
It’s your peers that do.
In Matthew 25, the Lord has divided the sheep from the goats and the King turns to those on His right and congratulates them for the times they fed, clothed, and took care of Him. In surprise, they wondered when they did all these things? They didn’t even realize they had been doing all these things for Him.
His reply is one that is precious beyond words.
“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto Me.”
The King didn’t say we had to do it for the great, important, clean, and well-known people. He said “the least of these”. This is the little people. The dirty people. The not-so-good-looking people. The very unpopular people. Even the people with the diaper sliding down one leg.
He didn’t say it had to be unto 100,000 . . . 20,000 . . . 800 . . . or 23.
In fact, he didn’t even say it had to be two people.
The King only asks for one.
Ladies, I am here to tell you: You can do one. Just one. That’s all He asks.
When you’re wiping up the vomit after the tenth time in one night . . . remember you are doing one. One for the Father.
When you are cleaning up the juice your two-year-old spilled . . . remember you are doing one. One for the King.
When you sit down to help your sixth grader with homework – again . . . remember you are doing one. One for the Son.
We serve a God that doesn’t require greatness. He doesn’t even ask for it. He asks for our all in serving “one of the least of these.”
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”
Ecclesiastes 9:10a
Open your hand and see what God has placed there. Maybe it’s one small child, or a dozen. Maybe it is helping your disabled husband or caring for a handicapped child. Maybe it’s nothing more than cleaning the bathroom after your family swept through it – but doing it with joy.
Yes, we moms can do one.
One with joy.
One with fervor.
One with laughter and love.
Unto one of the least of these.
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Melissa M. says
Thanks, Kendra, for the reminder! I especially love your quote about what God considers greatness vs. the world. Blessings to you and yours today.
Kendra says
Thank you! And you have an awesome week!
Luci says
Beautiful and timely for me. Thank you, friend!
Kendra says
You are so welcome, Luci!
Jeanie says
Yeah love it! Why do we forget this so often??
Kendra says
It’s easy to forget – I know!
Misty says
Thank you so much for this. Although it is something we all know, it is often easy to forget. Thanks for reminding me of my purpose in the little things that are great to the Lord.
Kendra says
You are welcome!!
MM says
Motherhood is a beautiful calling, but sometimes the “beautiful” gets lost in the day to day humdrum… a lovely reminder that caring for our husband and family is the highest and most beautiful calling there is. Wonderful thoughts Kendra 🙂
Kendra says
Thank you! I need this reminder so often.
Kim W says
Oh Kendra, what a lovely and timely reminder. Thank you.
Kendra says
You’re welcome!