The Constant Struggle for Proper Focus

I don't know about you, but I really struggle with keeping perspective and living in the moment. Time has always marched on, but since I started staying home with my kids a little more than seven and half years ago, I have really noticed that days really fade into weeks without "much" to show for it. I know when I was working things were a little more compartmentalized. I would work on a project and have the end result to show for all of my time and effort. I would plan an event as a youth minister and have that as the product of my time. I had relationships with students and got to see the blessings of those over time. I taught school and coached the Academic team. Once again, I had the school calendar to rule my time and had papers to grade, teams to compete (and win!!) at competitions.

Do not hear me wrong - I KNOW what I do every day is very meaningful. I KNOW that even if my boys never say thank you and never fully realize the level of my sacrifice, it has been the right thing to do. But I still find it hard to remain focused on NOT having tangible products to show for my efforts. It is a success at my house when little people remember to flush the toilet and put the lid down. I cheer when they make their bed, put their dirty clothes in the hamper and clean up after themselves in the kitchen, especially without having to be asked or reminded. I know we are getting somewhere when I see them share nicely without prodding or do something considerate for their brother or a friend unsolicited. All of these things are victories in our home - but you cannot necessarily SEE them each day. We also have those days where it seems that NO ONE is learning ANYTHING :) Thankfully, those days are outnumbered most weeks by the good days!

As I was sitting here pondering this today, I felt the Lord reminding me that this is exactly what it means to be a Christian. Our endeavors on earth are not to be praised and noticed. If anything, he instructs us in Matthew 6:3, "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,". In today's society, fame comes on Facebook, Twitter and various news sources almost immediately. We are so caught up in our accomplishments and feeling appreciated, we often overlook this instruction from Christ.

As parents, we are called to train our children in a love for the Lord. We are called to make tough decisions, to be parents and NOT their best friends. There are days when I know my boys do not LIKE me. But I also know that I have to do what is best for them and sometimes that means forsaking popularity.

The school that the boys attend has a slogan, "Educating for Eternity". I really think this is what we are doing or SHOULD be doing. Every lesson learned, every value they envelope, every decision made - it is all about a bigger picture, a bigger plan and ultimately, their eternal role. We cannot simply see our children, as precious as they are to us, as little people forever. We are creating and molding them into the men (and women) they will one day become.

NOW that is a big task.

I may not be able to take credit for every decision they make, especially once they are adults, but I am certainly a big part of their moral and value education. I think THAT is a project worthy of my efforts, don't you?

I pray that each of you who reads this will remember that every little thing we do or say DOES count. Every nose wiped, every tear caressed away, every spontaneous trip for ice cream or a fun run outside - those all contribute to the heart of who our children are now and who they will become. THAT is a gift from God to us. Do not take it lightly. It is a hope and promise I am clinging to right now. I pray you will see your mundane tasks as "kingdom tasks" and realize their (your) worth!