Dear Moms,

I just love this E. T. Sullivan quote:
"When God wants a great work done in the world or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn't stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunder bolts. Instead, he has a helpless baby born, perhaps in a simple home and of some obscure mother. And then God puts the idea into the mother's heart, and she puts it into the baby's mind. And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies."

I don't know what it is exactly about these words that I like so much, but they are full of hope and comfort to me as a mom. I think it's just that I like the reminder that God's plans for my children are bigger than I am. Maybe it takes a little bit of the pressure to be the perfect mom off my shoulders.

When you're "just" a mom, it's very easy to lose sight of the big picture, isn't it? I remember about 15 yrs. ago, a close high school friend asked me when I was going to "do something with my life." He said it was sad to think that this was all I was going to do, and he really hoped I was planning to finish my education, etc. because I was "capable of so much more." He meant that as a compliment, I guess. He said he was worried that I'd let too much time pass and I'd never wind up doing anything but staying home with my kids. Guess what? I never wound up doing anything but staying home with my kids! His comments hurt at the time, but still- I understood his point. I once had "big" plans for myself and my future. I wanted to be someone important; do important things. Now, I perform the same repetitive, mundane tasks every day. At times, I admit, it's easy to feel unimportant. Very unimportant. I am a housewife, after all- which is not one of the most complimentary labels to stick on a person. And what's really cruddy is- I'm not even all that good at it! lol! My home is a constant disaster. I can never keep up with it all. Nowadays, my life revolves around cutting-edge, serious matters such as comparing prices, getting stains out of shirts, being home in time to get someone somewhere, and helping a kid learn phonics. I'm overweight. I'm not beautiful. I have no impressive degrees. I'm certainly no Einstein. I will never reach the masses with my powerful opinions or words of wisdom. Instead, I go to Wal-mart more times each week than I want to think about right now. Whoop-dee-doo. Yet somehow, I have been blessed with the privilege of having the most important job on earth. You, too. Do you ever take a minute to really stop and think about that?

All I am is some obscure mother. I will probably never be anything BUT some obscure mother. But God has a plan for my children that I can't even see right now- and, amazingly, He's allowing me to be a part of it! What's even more amazing to me is that He can nudge and direct my children into His plans for them, not because of what I do as a mother; but in spite of it! Good thing!

Here's to all the other obscure mothers out there! I hope you'll be reminded today of the importance and blessing of being "just" a mom. What you do every day DOES matter. Don't forget it. Have a great day!!