My Ministry

I often struggle with thoughts that I could be doing more for/in God's kingdom than I am, but I can't figure out what else to do. I 100% believe that motherhood is a ministry, and that in this season of life it is my main one. I believe that serving my family is serving Jesus. I believe that nurturing my children is kingdom building. It just doesn't look like it matters much in in the midst of the laundry pile and toddler fights. We have always been so involved at church, even in a pastoral position for awhile, so it seems so foreign that in this season we are doing good to even make it to church with everyone dressed and no body sick. We choose to not leave our children in child care to go and serve because we prefer to do things as a family (and feel as though that's God's plan for us!), so that really limits our opportunity to be involved in a lot of outreach endeavors at this stage in our children's lives. I often wonder, how can I serve more? How can we give to God more? What can we do with 3 (soon to be 6!) small people in tow, two of whom are attached quite literally?!

An answer came to me this week. It may not be THE answer, as I think that we should live everyday ready to do more, to do anything Christ lays before us that day, but it is my answer for now. I was having a "your hands are full" conversation earlier this week with a stranger and shared that we are adopting from foster care. This person started crying, telling me that she had been adopted. She shared her story and had several questions for me about our process and the whys of it all. She stated several times before we parted ways that what we were doing touched her. My life, just being obedient to God, was ministering to someone. Our decision to honor God's word, "to care for the least of these", is bringing forth opportunities to share the gospel of Christ through conversations with complete strangers. I've had two of these times now, one in the checkout line in Sam's and one in the waiting room at the dentist. God is working, God is moving! My life is my ministry!

During this season I'm not serving in a soup kitchen or in the nursery, I'm not leading a bible study or even cleaning the church bathrooms. I've spent time doing those things before, and I know I will again. We would even gladly welcome the opportunity to serve God in full time ministry again as pastors should he choose to open that door. But right now, this day, I am in ministry a different way. I am loving my kids, I'm showing them how to love God, how to love others. And I'm able to share God's love with strangers through the story of our adoption process. How humbling and wondrous to see God use the simplest acts to glorify him! He is what matters! His love for others, being poured out through the lives of believers in Christ is all that matters!

On a side note, we have had another really great visit with our kids this weekend! We have our first overnight next weekend, and everyone is so excited for it!