Where do you get your worth? You know, self-esteem, self-worth whatever you want to call it. It's hard to get any as a wife and mother. We will be praised far more for the things we do outside of our home even in the "Christian" community. The definition of worth is "the quality that renders something desirable, useful or valuable". And I think at times our families can give us worth. When our husbands and kids (hopefully someday) appreciate the things we've done for them and the time we've spent with them it feels worthwhile.
But, it is so easy to fall prey to those feelings on worthlessness while we are serving our families. Ladies, we HAVE to get our worth from Jesus Christ! It's in Him and His redeeming love for us that we find usefulness and value. If we put him in the proper place in our lives we won't have to fill our lives with other things to feel whole. Jesus loves and accepts us just as we are. He finds the job we are doing as mothers and wives very worthy of our time and effort.
Now here I go bringing up the pesky Proverbs 31 woman! Proverbs 31:10 says, "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." Get your Bible out and read to the end of Proverbs 31. This woman certainly had interests outside of her house but she fears the Lord and that is praise worthy. We have to put Jesus Christ first in our lives.
Jesus Christ has created you as an intelligent, beautiful, talented woman. He thinks that you are worth dying for. I think my family is worth benefiting from the time, talent and education Christ has given me. Why do we think we are wasting it when we are pouring it into them?
I've talked to a handful of women in the last few months that are holding on to their jobs not because of the money, but because of the worth and value the title gives them. It's okay to get fulfillment out of your job, but we can't let these other things give us the worth that needs to come from Christ in our lives.
So if you are seeking worth from someone or something other than Christ, RUN back to the Source!
Matthew 6:26
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store up in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?"
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
4 comments:
I used to work at a daycare center in the infant/toddler room before I was married. Those poor little tykes were calling me mommy because I was the only stability in their life day in and day out. That is sad! When I get to feeling worthless I remember those poor kids and daycare and know that my kids have it WAY BETTER! Being a stay at home mom is a FULL TIME JOB AND THEN SOME (sometimes a 24 hours a day job when your baby is sick)! I love my kids and I wouldn't trade it for anything!!!!
Thanks for the little reminder, Michelle.
I was just with my sister-in-law this weekend. She has a successful law practice and had her first baby when she was older-than-most-I-know. She has her baby in an excellent child care center. While I wouldn't do it, I don't doubt that she and her husband love their child immensely and are super parents. I know that as a stay-at-home mom I can be quick to judge those who make other decisions, but it's not always so cut-and-dried.
Still thinking about this...I think the key is what you said: "We can't let other things give us the worth that needs to come from Christ."
This isn't a working mom vs stay-at-home mom issue. I know plenty of stay-at-home moms who get their worth from how cute their kids dress or how beautiful their houses are.
I also think it is more than a women's issue. We all know some men who definitely look to their work for their worth. Know any, Michelle?
Thanks for the reminder Michelle! I was just going through a time of "domestic drudgery" where I felt like nothing I did mattered. Sometimes after a day of wiping bottoms and dishes I wonder, "so this is what I turned out to be, another boring housewife?" It's so hard, but so important to keep our eyes on what God says makes a valuable woman.
Post a Comment