Finding Your Purpose as a Mom (Part 1)

In my life, questions like. . .What am I doing? Why am I here on earth? Am I making a difference in my life? Does what I do matter? What does this life mean?. . . have often plagued my thoughts.

Recently I was reading an article from Family Circle called, “The Secret Life of the American Wife”. It stated that 61 percent of American wives would change something about their life if given the chance.

Here are the five top changes they’d make:
1. Get a higher-paying job
2. Marry a different man
3. Marry later in life
4. Have more kids
5. Have kids at an earlier age

Clearly these women had not accurately calculated the timing very carefully when they answered these questions! But I have noticed that when we get antsy with life, or feel like something is wrong (especially as women), we tend to want to change something. . .I need a new haircut, a new wardrobe, a new house, a new style, a new husband, more kids...

After college, I taught elementary and junior high school for seven years. After teaching kindergarten, I “retired” and then went to work for a Christian organization. This was probably one of the most challenging positions that I had ever had. This is where I learned how to pray for wisdom because I quickly learned that I had none! After struggling with what I felt like was “quitting the ministry”, I came home to be a full-time mom.

I can’t tell you how excited I was to come home after working two and sometimes three jobs at one time. I was thrilled to be home with my two sweet girls and had visions of grandeur for our time together. I was going to be the greatest mom ever. People were going to call me “SuperMom”. My house was going to be decorated as a house you would find in any posh magazine. Our meals were going to be nutritious, gourmet and beautiful to gaze upon. I was prepared to do crafts with my children and make homemade gifts for every holiday on the calendar. And of course my children were going to be model citizens- a model that all would admire. Not only did the novelty wear off in about three weeks but my house wasn’t clean (we were remodeling a 1934 house for five years); my meals consisted of pasta, chicken and quesadillas (they weren’t that great to look at either); we may have got one craft done- the rest are still sitting in my craft closet and my children were not model citizens. . .but that is another story entirely!

After a few months of cleaning, cooking, picking up and dropping off, I hit a wall. I remember distinctly sitting on my bed one morning and realizing that I had run out of dreams. I had spent my whole life preparing for the “next” thing. . .I got good grades in elementary school so I could get into the AP classes in High School. In High School I made sure I had a good G.P.A. and a well-rounded life so I could get into college. In college I took all the necessary classes to get a good job, I traveled the world and had many wonderful experiences, I got married and had two kids and I even had a white picket fence. I had been extremely blessed! So how in the world could I at age 32 run out of dreams? I felt like I had nothing to look forward to. Was this my life now? Cleaning, cooking and driving? This was what all my hard work was for? Was this all there was?

During this time, I was reading a book by John Ortberg called, If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat. In the book Ortberg told a story of a gentleman who wanted to take his faith to the next level and decided to commit to a six-month prayer challenge. He was going to pray for one thing every day for sixth months. This inspired me to follow in his footsteps because I was desperate for change, a miracle. . .anything to help me in my purposelessness. I prayed everyday for six months for my calling, my purpose, so I could figure out what in the world God called me to do. It was the most amazing time and God spoke to me mightily.

In the coming articles, I'm going to discuss what God showed me. I know you will be blessed as we explore practical ways to fulfill your purpose as a mom. Stay tuned!

Delight yourself in the Lord And He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37; 4 NIV)

©2009 All Rights Reserved Trina Loucks
www.myheartsdesireministries.com