This morning I went out early to do some weeding in front of our house. Now before you start thinking that I am one of THOSE people who are up singing with the sunrise and doing 500 things before breakfast, I need to disclose the purpose of my morning chore: We are having people over.
Yes, I really haven’t been focusing too much on that part of our household. After all, I live in Florida, where it rains every day in the summer, humidity is 1,000 percent, and the temperature is usually a lovely 85 degrees by 8 AM. I always seem to find “more urgent” things to do than weed the front beds.
But because I was “motivated,” I went out to do it, and I am so glad I did. You see, as I was pulling weeds, I began to wonder how these weeds keep popping up. I have weeded these beds before. I removed the plants I didn’t want growing and allowed the ones we planted to stay. But these crazy unwanted plants still appear. And why is it that none of them are rose bushes or fruit trees? They always seem to be wild looking ones that take over and choke the others.
Well, I pulled and pulled, and sometimes when I grasped a weed, it came out with its roots still attached. Other times, the stems would break off, leaving the roots behind.
Now, you have to understand. My background is in science, and I have one of those weird minds that analyzes what is going on with living things. So whenever I pulled a weed without the roots attached, I reached a crisis. I could keep on going my merry way, knowing that at least the beds will look good on the outside, or I could stop and get the hand shovel to dig out the roots. But that was more work, and I had a lot more yard to cover.
You see, weeds can continue to grow if you leave the roots in the soil. They slow down a bit, but they do keep sending their roots deeper and eventually send out shoots and leaves that are bigger than they were before. That’s because those deeper roots can reach more water and nutrients. So if you pull weeds just from the tops, leaving the roots behind, you’re going to make your work harder later on.
Now, why all this conversation about weeding? Well, sin is like a weed in our lives.
Judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field. Hosea 10:4
If we allow sin to sit for a while, it grows deeper. When we realize we are having a struggle, we can do one of two things. We can easily cover it up, hiding the leaves so nobody can see it. But that means that its roots remain, growing deeper and getting a better foothold. That will cause bigger problems later on. Of course, we can completely remove the sin. But that is more work. It is messy.
It might leave an open spot for a while, where everyone can see something was wrong. However, it won’t easily come back.
Can you see where I’m going with this?
When my children were younger, I struggled with discontent. I had left a really fun career, and frankly, most folks thought I was crazy to leave. There I was, at home with my four children, keeping the house, caring for them, educating them. I knew what I was doing was important, but society sure didn’t think so. Sometimes, I would allow the roots of that discontent to stay. I would remove the visible leaves, putting on a happy face, trying to really get in to this homemaker gig. But when I did that, I just felt worse.
Like those hidden roots, that unhappiness would sit deep inside, coming out when I was up for the third time at night with a child or during a particularly long day of doing laundry.
How could I remove it? It would require work, and getting to the root of the problem. My issue wasn’t that I didn’t like being with my children. I liked it. But I had a need for the recognition that I had received when I was working. I needed to feel important. I wanted to do something that challenged my mind more.
Moms don’t usually get lots of recognition, do we?
Well, we think we don’t. But here is some:
Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Ps. 127:3
She is clothed in strength and dignity. Prov. 31:25 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her. Prov. 31:28
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. Prov. 31:30-31
I realized that my position was an honored one. One the LORD honors. And, now that my children are older, I have a perspective to see exactly how amazing that position has been. I AM truly fulfilled. It was the hardest, but the absolute best endeavor to be home with them as they grew. We have so many memories together. Our relationships are strong, too. And there are so many more blessings that come with this “occupation.”
That is why I’ve titled this blog Just EXTRAordinary. Yes, we are “just” moms. Yes, we work amidst the ordinary. But it is just that ordinary-ness, done each day, lovingly serving our families that makes us extraordinary. Sometimes we will struggle with feeling unfulfilled or whatever other issues come up. But if we go to God’s word to see what He has to say about our position, we will be encouraged. We will dig out those roots, sometimes with tears, sometimes by asking forgiveness, sometimes confessing to others. And often that will leave us messy for a bit.
But ALWAYS, that will provide a fresh start with a renewed spirit! Don’t put off that weeding; we all have to do it.
KNOW that your position is an extraordinary one, as given to you specifically by our awesome LORD!
