“Just” A Mother

Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Proverbs 31:28-29

The other day I had a friend write to me saying that she was deeply hurt by someone’s comment — her friend had made a passing comment after she’d said she takes a certain shortcut in a cooking method, and the friend responded with the likes of “But why? You don’t do anything! You have all the time in the world to do it!”

Ouch.

My sweet friend opted not to go to college and instead, focuses on building her cooking skills, something she loves to do. She is an incredible cook and has even set up a small catering business… but her ultimate dream is to have a family.

As my friend poured her heart out to me, I related to how insecure and upset she felt. I too once was told something like that — that I’m doing “nothing” with my life — by a person in church, of all people.

If your goal in life, like my friend’s (and I) is to be a wife and mother, I want to give encouragement to you. Being a wife, mother and keeper of the home is a valid, important and noble vocation. And if you’re in the in-between season right now, I want to encourage you further. Here are some ideas as you stay home and prepare for your next season of life, and as you will see, it is the opposite of “doing nothing”:

Work on your spiritual life

This is the perfect time to work on your spiritual life. Matthew 16:26 says: “What good is it if a man gains the world but looses his soul?” And how true it is! What we do here on Earth dictates where we are spending eternity. So get right with God and use this time to work on your salvation.

If you haven’t been to church in awhile, go to church. Pick up your Bible and read it, study it. Draw closer to Him wherever you are in your Christian walk. Have an eternal mind and focus on eternal things. This is what truly matters in our lives.

Cultivate practical skills for the future

As a wife and stay-at-home mom, one thing I regret is that I didn’t prepare for it in my youth. I wish I had spent more time post-university doing something like honing my cooking skills, taking a bread making class, sewing workshops or a first-aid course. This is the perfect time to hone such skills. You can also spend time volunteering and serving others. Do mission work. Serve at church.

Serve others and build relationships

Future moms, I really recommend to start babysitting, no matter your age, no matter your experience with kids. You can also spend this time volunteering and serving others. Do mission work. Go overseas. Serve at church. Build some deep Christian friendships, which make life so rich and joyful. Find a spiritual mentor.

Be confident in your identity in Christ

One of the most freeing things in life is being set free from the fear of man and what other people think of you. The closer you draw to Jesus, the more you’ll see just how secure, safe, loved and accepted you are. You don’t need that acceptance from the world when you have it from the living, true, holy God Himself. We do not live like the world does.

Be encouraged, future wife and mama. You’ve chosen a wonderful goal in life. I speak from experience — being a wife and stay at home mother is the best thing, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.