An updated blog post from 2010.
Years ago I cut out a quote from an unknown source and tucked it away. Over time, I have tweaked it a little to fit each season of motherhood, but the heart behind it still speaks truth to me:
God is not concerned with how clean my floor is, how many dishes are on the counter, or how tall the loads of laundry are on the floor. All He cares about is what my attitude was like, whether or not I did my best, and how much glory I gave Him in the process. My character is more important to Him than my to-do list.
It is so easy to believe that productivity equals success. A clean kitchen, folded laundry, dinner on the table, checked boxes on the to-do list. Those things matter, but they are not the measure of motherhood.
More Than Checking Boxes
Recently, I came across this quote by Mother Teresa: It is not how much we give but how much love we put into what we give.
Those words stopped me.
God has only given me a short season to love on my young children. Yes, there is work to be done every day—meals to make, messes to clean, lessons to teach, attitudes to correct. But lately, I keep asking myself one question:
- Am I doing it in love?
- Am I doing dishes in love?
- Am I playing tractors in love?
- Am I answering the same question for the 10th time in love?
- Am I correcting behavior in love?
The Atmosphere of Our Home
Because while my children may not remember a perfectly clean house, they will remember the atmosphere of our home. They will remember whether Mom was patient, present, and loving.
This does not mean responsibilities disappear. Homes still need cared for, and children still need guidance. But maybe the goal is not perfection.
Maybe the goal is faithfulness. Doing ordinary things with extraordinary love.
Growing in Love
God keeps bringing one word into my quiet time lately: love. It feels like a gentle reminder from the Holy Spirit that love is not something extra we add to motherhood—it is the foundation of it.
So today, I am praying:
Lord, help me slow down.
Help me choose patience over frustration.
Help me remember that people matter more than productivity.
Help me love well in the middle of ordinary moments.
Because in the end, I do not want my children to remember a perfectly managed home. I want them to remember they were deeply loved in it.
Love in the Little Things
Friend, if your to-do list feels never-ending, give yourself grace. Care for the home God has given you, but do not forget to care for the hearts He has placed inside it too. We must keep it between the ditches.
Sometimes the holiest work looks a lot like folding laundry, wiping counters, and sitting on the floor to play—when it is done with love.
Embark on a Journey of Faith
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