When I was about seven years old, I walked into the kitchen where my mom was drying dishes, and standing a bit behind her I asked with big, hopeful eyes, “Mommy, can I have…”
At that time in that season of our little family’s life, we were living in a parsonage behind our church where my dad was the pastor of a small, new congregation. We lived the simple and tightly budgeted life of a pastor’s family. My mom cooked every meal, sewed many of our clothes, and created a home from the donations of food, clothing, furniture, and appliances we were blessed to receive from kind church members. Where money was scarce love abounded…but money was still scarce and life was a challenge for my parents as a young couple in full-time ministry with three children.
So, when her little girl came with pleading eyes with a request for something, my mom in that moment felt the tug of a mother wanting to give her child anything she desired and the counter pull of a wife and woman feeling the pressure of being a pastor’s wife and living on less than $100 a week. And in that moment instead of waiting for me to finish my request, my weary mother turned from the sink counter, interrupted me, and said in an uncharacteristically impatient tone, “You can’t have anything. We don’t have money for anything!”
… silence…
She knew she had spoken harshly. My little eyes grew big and welled up with little tears, I lowered my head, and my hands came up to my chin clutching a small photo I had clipped from a magazine. She must have been up to “here” with bills and requests and “life” and in that moment I may as well be asking for a horse or the moon. She felt the pain of disappointing me as she imagined her inability to grant any wish at all. I looked back up to her, handed her the crumpled photo, and said, sheepishly, “…all I wanted was a turtle.” My mom’s heart melted and she actually smiled a bit, caught off guard by my request and perhaps her own overreaction. Set her dish towel aside and pulled me close to her.
The cares and distractions of married life, mom life, and life, in general, all had overcome her, but in that moment, we connected over hopes and desires and all that we wanted and couldn’t have, longed for, and might find a way to get. Above all, my mom and I had a moment to thank God together for what He was providing and that even if we couldn’t feed another mouth at that time, we had reason to look to our heavenly Father for the greater mission we had in Him.
I don’t recall every detail, but I have a lasting memory that my mom was pointing me to Jesus and how our lives – as distracted by cares and concerns as they can get – should always be aimed at our higher calling. I know her mission was to help me see and secure my undivided devotion to the Lord, and she did.
In 1st Corinthians Paul has been teaching the church that the entanglements and relationships of life can be a distraction. That marriage and family or being single and struggling with unmet desires can all distract from our calling to keep the cross before us. We are reminded that we were “bought with a price” and should then live with that in mind and glorify God in our bodies. Life is ours to live to the glory of God and Paul is excited to remind us that worldly things can and do bring anxiety. I know my mom felt that. I know I do as a wife and mother today. But marriage is a blessing, motherhood is as well and while we should be delighted to honor God in every season – married or single, with or without children – we should always keep the joy of our calling before us and prioritize God’s kingdom above all.
I love Paul’s heart when he says, “I want you to be free from anxieties…The unmarried [man (or woman)] is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord…the married woman is anxious about worldy things, how to please her husband…[and children too!]” (1 Cor. 7:32) In this context Paul is begging us to keep our focus as free from distraction as possible – if we marry that’s great – just know your devotion to God is going to have competition – pleasing our husband and giving our children turtles – or whatever it is your child is into these days. But do you get the point?
Maybe an overreaction to a simple request is what can reset our thoughts. We don’t get everything we want. We can’t even give everything we want to give. But we can keep in front of us the calling of God in our lives and we can glorify God in our bodies and teach our children to do that as well. “I say this for your own benefit…to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:35)
Moms, teach your children well this wonderful truth – God first. Devotion to Him first. You may not be able to give them every turtle request, but you can give them what matters most a Mom who loves God first and blesses her children to model that kind of life of devotion. What a difference it will make in their life and yours!
Thank you for stopping by. This post is from the “Corinthians: Love & Light” Dwelling Richly Bible study series, “My Heart to Yours” Lesson Three. You’re invited to join us in this study. Click Here for details. Before you go, say “Hi!”, leave a comment, and thank you for sharing!
You can watch the messages from this series on my YouTube Channel or listen along with the Dwelling Richly Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Google, or any podcast platform
Love and Blessings,
Jennifer
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