Motherhood Miles

Some days, I just want to be along for the ride. Let somebody else drive. Let somebody else decide where we are going and how we are going to get there.  I am taking a nap in the passenger seat. Wake me up when we arrive.

Then I remember… The only other people in the car can’t see over the dash.

Motherhood miles. I’ve traveled a lot of them. There is no riding along in the passenger seat. If you are a mom, you’ve got the keys, the map and are wearing the chauffeur hat. And did I mention the mechanic’s suit? Because you know, at some point, there is going to be a break-down.

I’ve had a lot of them. Break-downs that is.

Motherhood miles are hard. When you are driving on the narrow road, you might wonder if you took a wrong turn. But stay on it. The narrow road leads to life.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

Choose the road less traveled.

How about a convertible with the wind blowing in your hair as your love drives you into the setting sun?

The reality is, the road less traveled might look more like a minivan full of kids on a dark, rocky road – alone. Your husband might be a phone call away, but he’s got work to do. Or maybe you are parenting all on your own. The few people that entered the narrow gate with you are either way ahead or far behind. You can only see a few feet in front of you at a time as you wonder if you missed your turn. You entered that narrow gate on a full tank, but your running out of gas fast.

Where is that promised life I came for? You pray. With your eyes open of course because you are in the driver’s seat! Then, as you are tuning the radio station for something to calm your soul (and drown out the kids), you hear His voice coming through the static of life.

“Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:6

Sarai chose to enter the narrow gate and received the promised child. (Genesis 12)

Esther chose to travel that same narrow road and God saved her people from a ruthless King.  (Esther 8)

Rahab chose to follow in their steps and God spared her life and the life of her family. (Joshua 2)

Each of these women entered the narrow gate and chose the road less traveled. Sarai left behind her family and a life of prosperity. Esther braved a ruthless king. Rahab risked her life to follow what she knew in her heart – “the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” (Joshua 2:11)

Women of faith leave something behind for something better ahead, even when they can’t see it and it seems like the rest of the world is on the road to success… and you are not. You’re not even using the same map!

Leaving something behind.

That’s right. Women of faith are on a different road. Remember, it’s the road less traveled. Just like Sarai, Rahab and Esther, you’ll likely leave something behind.

Instead of choosing to climb the corporate ladder of success, you chose to be a stay-at-home mom.

Instead of picking up the remote to binge watch someone else’s better life,  you pick up your Bible and pray, asking God to give you strength and contentment.

Instead of going all out on the custom SUV, you chose to buy the budget mini-van and stay faithful to your tithe.

Instead of buying the latest and greatest for your kids, you pull together the best you can and pray that your children place their confidence is nothing other than Jesus.

Instead of saying yes to every extra-curricular activity that will make your kids better at [insert activity here],  you said no to most, so you could be at church every week – worshiping, learning and serving together.

Your journey may look a little different, but if you entered through the narrow gate to follow Jesus, we are on the same road. We are using the same map. We are following the same Map-Maker.

Map-Maker. Map-Reader.

I love reading maps. There are so many places to stop, adventures to be had and life to be lived at every turn. When I was little girl my dad would surprise us with day trips all over Kentucky. We would pile in without a care in the world so that we could see and experience the wonder of God’s creation. I would stare for what seemed like hours out the window anticipating our next stop.

I didn’t think about what car we were driving or if it was going to break down. I just trusted my father to get me where we were going even though I didn’t really know where it was. I enjoyed the scenery, even through sister-fights, and every once in while I would climb up on top of the back seat and look out the rear window of our old car for a different view.

Then, I grew up.  I am no longer along for the ride. I am the ride.

I am also the map reader.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

Sometimes I get lost. Perhaps I didn’t take the time to seek God’s direction through his word. Maybe I didn’t stop to pray, and keep praying, until I knew in my heart which way to go. And I imagine sometimes I just hit the gas, neglecting to wait on the Lord, and missed my turn. Thank God for rest stops and u-turns.

God is faithful, even when we are not. But be careful. It is tempting to toss out the Map and take the easy-land exit. After all, everyone else is doing it and it looks so good. It looks better. Until one day… its not.

It’s full of traffic jams, life-choking pollution and if we aren’t careful, we will risk losing our children to the world. One day, they too will have to make a choice on their own to enter through the narrow gate and travel the narrow path that leads to life.

The Way.

Motherhood miles are hard, but there is a way.  Listen to Jesus’ words to the disciples when they needed comfort and direction.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may also be where I am. You know the place where I am going.

Thomas said to him, ‘ Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’

Jesus answered, ‘I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’

Philip said, ‘Lord, show us and that will be enough for us.’” John 14:1-8

Did you hear Him? He is the Way. And the Way is enough. The Life God has created just for you and your family on the narrow path is enough for your worn-out mom-soul. And it’s enough for your kids too.

Sarai and Rahab are the only women directly named as heroes of faith. Esther, because of her obedience, redirected the course God’s people – His children. As you read their stories you begin to understand that they are never alone. Sarai had Abram, Rahab had the spies and Esther had her uncle Mordecai.

My somebody has been Michael, my husband. God sends us people on the journey to help encourage, strengthen and sometimes just give us a break.  My heart goes out to you moms that rarely find a place to rest. But hang on – somebody is coming.

Motherhood miles are hard, but when they are spent on the narrow road, they make an eternal difference. Your faith and obedience can redirect the course of your life and the life of your children.

 

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Strength and encouragement for the road less traveled.

“My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

 “It is the Lord who goes before you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

 “I will instruct you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Psalms 32:8

 “After the death of Moses, the servant of God, God spoke to Joshua, Moses’ assistant: ‘Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I’m giving to the People of Israel. I’m giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River, the Euphrates River—all the Hittite country—and then west to the Great Sea. It’s all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.’” Joshua 1:1-9 (The Message)