I've been thinking a lot lately about Christian motherhood and priorities.  I want so desperately to be a good mother to our children--to train them up in the way they should go and bring them up in faith.  As those of you who are doing it or have done it know, there is never a lack of things to do when one stays home with her children, and I find myself struggling with what should take precedence on any given day.

I always come away feeling rather inadequate when I visit someone's home and it is perfectly tidy.  The carpets are vacuumed, the kitchen freshly mopped, and though there are children in the home, there isn't a stray toy to be found.  Just how is that accomplished?  Before Mercy we had a 650 sq. ft. apartment that was always very, very tidy.  Even after Mercy it was pretty tidy.  Now that she's a toddler, there is always something out of place.  And I crave neatness.  I love it when everything has a place and contentedly lives there.

Then there are the moms who, though technically "stay-at-home," are constantly busy with other projects.  They run home businesses, tutor, teach 20 music students, manage to complete several sewing and knitting projects a week, and the like.  Wow.  I manage a sewing project every couple of weeks, and only at the expense of the housework.

When I end up feeling down because I just can't keep up with those other women, I am so thankful for having been blessed with the husband I have.   He is faithful at reminding me that I am not those women, nor do I need to be.  We have also been disturbed by the number of homes (yes, these are Christian homes) in which the house is pristine and projects are constantly in the making, but the children are plunked in front of the television (whether TV or movies) for much of the day so that mom can see to her apparent priorities.

Lately I am often reminded of a woman I lived with my senior year in college and the one semester of graduate school I completed.  She and her husband are some of the most generous people I have ever met.  The house was a disaster by most people's standards.  You had to dig to find the surface of the table, the counters, the couch, etc.  However, their three children were grown and gone, and they didn't spend a whole lot of time at home.  Marie's life was given in service to others.  She spent one night a week at a friend's home relieving the husband who's wife had had a stroke.  She took people who needed a friend or were having a difficult time to lunch.  Together they were constantly helping someone, somehow.  And simply spending time together walking and the like.  I don't know how many times I heard Marie state that she knew her house was a terrible mess, but she figured that in the long run God wasn't going to care.  Her husband didn't mind the mess and it was important to both of them that they help others when they could.

So, what should my priorities be?  Sure, my home needs to be clean enough to be livable, but I have a husband who doesn't mind a bit of clutter.  If you come into my home at any given time you will more than likely find toys scattered across the floor, vacuuming that needs to be done, and possibly dirty dishes in the sink.  However, if I count the number hours I've logged sitting on the bathroom floor reading and singing to Mercy while she learns where to "take care of business," sitting in the recliner reading Bible stories, seeing to split chins and bruised foreheads, pushing swings, teaching to come the first time Mommy calls, etc. my days are pretty full. 

And in the end I want my children to remember me for teaching them in the ways of scripture rather than having a home that could be shown to potential buyers at any given time.  Our children are vital to the Kingdom.  Very few people see my kitchen sink, but the world will see Mercy and Gilead and any other children we may be blessed with.  And their children and grandchildren.  I need to keep life in perspective.  We have been blessed with remarkable little gifts.  Little people, our covenant children, whom the Lord has entrusted to our care.  It is my responsibility to teach them, train them, discipline them, and love them so that Christ's Kingdom might grow.  If for this season of life that means that there is always a dish or two in the sink or that I'm not going to be perceived as "supermom," for "successfully" having a million irons in the fire, so be it.  My children's hearts are the potential sacrifices.  And those stakes are far too high.