It seems my days are filled with constant interruptions and the unexpected. In the middle of morning quiet time, our baby wakens and may or may not go back to sleep for the day. When in the middle of imparting what I think to be a very important lesson, I’m interrupted by the question, “Who do you think would win – an alligator or a dragon?” While doing dishes or folding laundry, I hear a long, “Mooommmm!” from down the hall. And in the midst of it all, someone is always touching me.
I often feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and like my work doesn’t matter. Like my brain is playing ping-pong between my mental to-do’s or plan for the day, and the current needs of my family. By mid-afternoon, I can feel my strength for the day has zapped. And by evening, it’s all I can do to finish up the bedtime routine. It almost feels like crossing a finishing line in a race – “whew, I did it.”
It can feel like too much some days. And there are times I’ve wondered, ‘God, do you care? Do you understand how I feel right now?’
I was reading a passage recently that makes me think He did. In Mark 4-5, we get a glimpse into a few days of Jesus’ life. He starts out by teaching by the sea to a huge crowd – so huge that he has to get into a boat to keep teaching! He teaches to the crowd, and then to his own disciples, all day. So that it’s evening by the time they climb into a boat to cross to the other side of the sea. Jesus is so exhausted, He falls asleep in the stern. A powerful storm arises, and the boat begins to fill up. These experienced fishermen, men who’ve weathered many a storm and know the sea, cry out for help – to a carpenter! Who is still asleep! Jesus rebukes the storm, and it fades, and his disciples wonder at him. Due to Jesus’ intervention, they reach the other side, and immediately a demon-possessed man meets them. He lives among tombs and in the mountainside, naked and screaming while he gnashes himself with stones. Jesus cleanses him of the spirits, and the local townfolk are so terrified, they “implore Him to leave their region.” So Jesus gets back into the boat, and crosses again to the other side, where a large crowd meets Him. It’s such a crowd that He stays by the shore. But while He’s tending their needs, a synagogue official begs Him to come heal his daughter. Jesus begins to follow Him, the crowd pressing in on Him, but on the way, a woman who’s had a hemorrhage for 12 years reaches out to touch Jesus’ cloak, and He stops because He feels the power go from Him to heal her. He stops in order to commend her for her faith, when He could’ve just ignored the event, or even stopped to chide her. “While He was still speaking”, people from the synagogue official’s house come to tell them that the daughter has died. He continues on His way to her, and the grieving house laughs at Him when He declares that He will raise her. But raise her, He does. She immediately walks, and He requests her parents give her something to eat.
Two days in the life of Jesus. Two days of constant teaching, interruption, plan-changing, exhaustion, and serving of others. Two days of meeting needs and caring for others, without stop. Two days of “immediately” and “while He was still speaking” and many people with needs, pressing in on Him and coming to Him. One thing after another.
And yet we don’t see Jesus falter. He keeps taking one step after the other. His day-to-day was not made up of grand royal plans, even though He was a king. It was in ministering to those He met along the way, as He was going about His business. We don’t see Him lash out in unrighteous anger, or chide the woman who touched Him, or ignore the demon-possessed man, or quit teaching, or give up because others mock Him as He’s going about His work. If I’m honest, these are all things I’ve been tempted to do in one way or another.
How often have I erupted in unrighteous anger when my day’s plans have derailed? How often have I scolded a little one for pressing against me while I’m going about my daily tasks? How often have I ignored the very needy, those whom most of society shuns? How often have I wanted to give up discipling or teaching because I’m worn out or frustrated? How often have I wanted to angrily lash out because my work as a discipling mother is mocked?
Too often, for all of those things. Seeing the way Jesus handled these two days gives me great humility, but it also gives me great hope. I can learn from Jesus’ and grow in the direction of His goodness.
How was Jesus able to endure days like this for years on end, without once sinning? Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” He felt what we feel, and He wanted to react the way we react! But He didn’t. Jesus was deeply rooted in His mission, and He didn’t let interruptions, or exhaustion, or mocking stop Him from completing that mission.
We have a mission, too. We were asked to “make disciples of every nation”, and as mommas we have the privilege of living out that mission in our own home. We have the honor of raising up our children surrounded by the love and knowledge of God, so that they learn to seek Him and have an anchor for their lives, no matter what is thrown their way.
Let’s not grow weary in doing good. “For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.” (Including future saints). God sees your work, and the daily love you show to those in your care, even while interrupted, exhausted, and mocked, is love that you show toward His name. Remember your mission, keep it at the forefront of your mind, and just keeping taking one step at a time.
When the interruptions happen, remember that they are opportunities for serving. When exhaustion looms, fall asleep (Jesus did!) and then when you’re unceremoniously woken, take care of those needs. When you’re mocked for the sometimes mundane, often unglamorous work you do, gently continue fulfilling your mission.
And in it all, see the big picture: all of these things are showing love to God, and He will not forget your work.
A Little Golden Thread 