Today’s Gospel reading from Mark 1:29-39 reminds me of motherhood.
Jesus Is busy. He has a lot going on. He is spread thin and the needs people place on him are great. He has to get up before dawn just to pray. (Ouch.)
People have expectations of him all day long. They need him.
Jesus was spending time with his friends, but Simon’s mother-in-law was sick and in need of healing.
In the evening, he healed those who were sick and possessed by demons.
The next day, while he was trying to find time alone, which reminds me of hiding from my family in the bathroom in hopes of a few quiet minutes, his friends found him and took him out to preach again.
Can you imagine how exhausted Jesus was? How tired he must have been from giving so much of himself to help others?
But even though the demands on him were large, even though he was likely physically and emotionally tired, Jesus didn’t fight the demands of others. He didn’t make excuses or feel sorry for himself. He didn’t argue with his friends when they pointed out a need. He didn’t sulk that he was in the middle of something or hadn’t had his coffee yet like I’m so guilty of. Jesus got up. He embraced the needs of others. He accepted His father’s will and did what was asked of him. He didn’t take his responsibility lightly. Rather, he acknowledged its importance.
“For this purpose I have come.”
What is my purpose? I’d like to think I have something lofty and glamorous yet to do. I want to blog, write a book, be a health coach, speak and inspire women. But perhaps that’s not the purpose God calls me to today. He calls me to be a wife. He calls me to be a mother. First and foremost, he has called me to this, my vocation.
And even though this stage of life is hard, even though I get burned out and feel unappreciated at times, it’s my responsibility to step up. It’s my job to pull on my boots by their straps and do the hard work of giving my best to my family. More than anything else right now, that is my purpose. But in order to achieve it, I must make time for God. I must not give in to the chaos and seemingly endless demands placed on me and my motherhood. I must make time to pray. I must find ways to take care of myself so I can remain mentally, spiritually and emotionally healthy. I must keep God at the forefront so I can be lead to serve and care my family and fulfill the very important purpose God has given me today.
What about you? For what purpose has God sent you? How and when do you make time to pray?
