Tuesday, March 4, 2008

For Stay-At-Home Mom's

Mother's Prayer

Dear Lord, It's such a hectic day,
With little time to stop and pray,
For life's been anything but calm,
Since You called me to be a Mom,
Running errands, matching socks,
Building dreams with matching blocks,
Cooking, cleaning, finding shoes,
And other stuff that children lose,
Fitting lids on bottled bugs,
Wiping tears and giving hugs,
A stack of last week's mail to read,
So where's the quiet time I need?
Yet, when I steal a moment, Lord,
Just at the sink or ironing board,
To ask the blessings of Your Grace,
I see them in my small one's face,
That You have blessed me
All the while...
And I stop to kiss that precious smile!
— Author Unknown


Today I listened to a wonderful and encouraging radio broadcast from Focus on the Family. I used to listen to broadcasts on the radio, many years ago. Recently though I found out they are broadcast on the site online when Kathy mentioned a broadcast in one of her posts (which my husband and I both listened to and enjoyed). Anyway, last week we got a publication from Focus on the Family with a list of upcoming broadcasts. I subscribed to the daily digest because there were a couple on the list this month that interested me.

Today was the first one. It is called The Value of Stay-at-Home Moms. The first part aired today. The speaker is author Jill Savage. It really blessed and encouraged me, and I look forward to the second half tomorrow. I'd encourage all of you SAHM to listen to this wonderful program.

It is our choice for me to stay at home, and I feel blessed beyond words that I am able to do so. In our society I feel often that those who do choose to stay at home are sometimes looked down on or at least it feels this way. Something that has bothered me is the idea that staying at home is just a "waste" of my education. This is not how I feel, but sometimes it seems that is how staying at home is viewed by others. This point was specifically mentioned on the program today. Staying home is not a waste of my education. I am "applying my skills to a valuable profession" as Ms. Savage said. I feel in our society motherhood is not valued or appreciated. When asked what you do for a living, "being a Mom" isn't a normally expected (or even accepted) answer.
I know the value of having a Mom at home because my own Mom stayed at home until I was a freshman in high school. I must also say that I am so proud of my husband's support. He wants me to stay home and sees the value in my being at home. It is as important to him as it is to me. I'm so thankful for this.

This radio program was perfect timing. JMP and I were talking how it feels sometimes people just expect me to be able to do whatever whenever for them because I "just" stay at home.

Mothers, please know you are valuable. Whatever you are doing is important for your children. We need to cherish our time with our little ones. All the time we hear from others with older children how fast they grow up. It is wonderful to be reminded from time to time.

I hope you will be able to listen and be blessed by this broadcast. The poem at the top was read at the beginning of the program and I wanted to share it too.
---------------------------------------
"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.' " Proverbs 31:27--29

4 comments:

Kathy said...

I couldn't agree with you more. I think staying home with children is the highest calling for a mother. When I got to the point that I was able to be home with my kids, I was so happy and I always knew that I could get a job later on. I don't regret one minute of the time I spent at home with them.
I hated it when I was a kid and my mother had to work.

Natalie said...

What a great post. I too have had some of the same feelings but am so thankful for the opportunity to be at home with my baby. Thank you.

Pamela said...

Great post indeed!! I sometimes feel less for being a stay at home mom but I am eternally grateful to be home with my son. I worked when my daughter was born. It was hard.
The poem is great too. I might have to use it. :)
Thanks for another great post. it's always so uplifting to read your blog.

sister sheri said...

Thanks for the info... I try to get some of the podcasts... so, I'll make sure to download this one!