Poopy Diaper Awards!!

Sometimes, as a mom, I get to the place where I think it just doesn't matter any more.  I do the same thing every day.  Sometimes, I do those same things over and over in a day. 

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I wash laundry.  The kids fall in the mud. 

I spend all day making dinner and it's gone in 15 minutes! 

I wash the dishes while the kids are tracking mud and snow through the living room.  By the time the carpet is cleaned up the baby is awake and needs to be fed. 

It's a lonely, vicious cycle that never seems to end.  You go to bed at night and consider it an accomplishment if you get to stay there till morning.  Then, in the morning the cycle starts over again.

I've found myself wondering how I'm supposed to be "joyful mother of children" when no one even seems to realize that I am the one doing everything for everyone.  No one stops to say, "thank you", no one trys to help. 

I used to think that I was at home "slaving away" while my husband was at work doing great things for God.  I thought that my husband was laying up treasures in Heaven while I was at home getting little to nothing done.


But then I found these verses:

Colossians 4:17

...Take heed to the ministry which thou has received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it....

Obviously, if God has given me children then they are my ministry.  Our children, our husbands and our homes are all part of our ministry.  They are all God's will for us to do.  The things you do at church are not any more or less important than these things that we have to do at home. So, that means that changing diapers and cleaning up after sick kids is working for the Lord!! 

Wait, that's not the encouraging part!  THIS IS:

Colossians 3:22-24

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.  

Did you see that??  That means that I don't have to prove how much I did today.  Not to my husband, not to my children, or my dog!  {And, yes!  I used to make lists to 'prove' to my husband that I really had worked that day.  And my list contained things like, "changed another poopy diaper", and, "cleaned ______ up...again!"} 

I can rest in the knowledge that God saw everything I did today (whether it's still done or not) and GOD will reward me for my service to HIM  {even if that service has since been undone}!!  If it's God's will for me to care for my children, clean my house, do my laundry or cook meals for all those hungry people, then I need to do it for HIM! 

BUT we must remember that God not only sees what we did today, but He also sees the attitude in which we did it.  Were we happy when we did it?   Did we ask Him to help us with it?  Did we do our best? 

God will reward us for what we have done and HE can reward far better than anyone I know!  So, that means that every time I change the bed sheets, fold a load of laundry, wash the dishes or windows, vacuum the house, wipe the baby's nose, cook breakfast, lunch or dinner...the list is endless...God sees what we did and GOD WILL REWARD US!!

Just think!  All those poopy diapers you've changed didn't go unnoticed.  Your baby probably didn't stop to say "thank you, Mother for wiping my bottom!  I feel much better now!".  Your husband probably didn't even consider the fact that you have changed diapers every day for the past several years (not to mention all the hours spent potty training each kid) but God sees every bit and He will bless you accordingly. 

Keep your head up.  Be happy.  God is watching and God will reward us for the things we do with a good attitude...even changing those poopy diapers!!  So, the next time you find yourself up to your elbows in poo, you can remind yourself that if it's God's will for you today, then HE will bless you for your good attitude and your faithfulness.

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