When my daughter was thirteen she wrote a letter, sealed it and tucked it away. I thought that was pretty cool. “What are your plans for this letter, Meg?”
“I’m not going to open it until my twenty-first birthday.” She smiled.
It got me thinking, as a mom, if I could go back in time, what words of wisdom would I want myself to know? What lasting encouragement would I share? It didn’t take long to figure out the message I’d want to leave: Don’t despise the days of small beginnings.
Really, Lord?
I was blessed with four children. At the height of diapers and Desitin, I remember quite a few overwhelming years. As a new mom, I underestimated the colossal life change a baby brings. I once believed a child was a pretty accessory to the life I was already living—a tiny dimpled mom-bling to make my life whole.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
My rock bottom came one morning as the odiferous scent of spit-up and sweet potatoes permeated the air—the organic body spray of motherhood. After changing what felt like my hundredth diaper that day, I slumped down at my kitchen table exhausted and dropped my face into my hands.
Tears welled as I prayed silently, Really Lord, is this my lot in life? Teaching children to put away their toys? Reminding them over and over to say kind words? Disciplining them when they don’t share? Father, are you aware that I’m wiping tiny bums and tinier noses—seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day? Lord, surely you must have something bigger and well, maybe more important for me to be doing with my life.
God’s holy message came from a woman in our church. After whining to her about yet another frustrating day, she gently shared, “Joanne, don’t despise the days of small beginnings.”
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin,
to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. Zechariah 4:10
I’ll be the first to admit, her words both stung and encouraged me. I knew the scripture. Zechariah was encouraging Zerubbabel to finish rebuilding the temple. A gargantuan task that had its beginnings in less monumental ways.
So, on the one hand, I was sad to be complaining about my children. On the other hand, my friend had given me the ability to start looking at small things in the long range. Each tiny opportunity was meant for God’s purpose. Zechariah was encouraging holy work, too. I began to see my parenting role as a God honoring employment opportunity from my Lord and King.
Author and missionary, Elisabeth Elliot says, “The God who created and names and numbers the stars in the heavens also numbers the hairs of my head. He pays attention to very big things and to very small ones. What matters to me matters to Him, and that changes my life.”
Do you realize how much small beginnings make for a much bigger end result? Charles Spurgeon gives hope to parents everywhere. “God accepts your little works if they are done in faith in his dear Son. God will give success to your little works. God will educate you by your little works to do greater works and your little works may call out others who shall do greater works by far than ever you shall be able to accomplish.”
Small Beginnings—Big Results
When you teach your child to pick up their toys—you raise a responsible adult.
When you teach your child to share—you raise kind adults.
When you teach your child to choose their words carefully –you raise encouraging adults.
When you teach your child to serve—you raise adults who serve.
When you teach your child patience—you raise an adult who knows peace.
When you teach your child about hard work—you raise an adult who will never go hungry.
When you teach your child about heartache—you raise an adult who has joy in any storm.
When you teach your child not to fear—you raise an adult to face any adventure life brings.
When you teach your child to appreciate differences—you raise adults who respect all people.
When you teach your child to be happy with little—you raise an adult who is content.
When you teach your child you love God—you raise an adult who may desire to love God, too.
Be strong and courageous mom, you are at the beginning of a great and mighty journey. No matter what small thing you are doing—yet again, no matter what itty bitty something you do for the umpteenth time this week, stand strong and remember—small beginnings are holy work in your child’s life. You are building an immovable foundation for the big things God has for your adult child one day.
By, Joanne Kraft, the author of Just Too Busy–Taking Your Family on a Radical Sabbatical.
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