Your Mission Field

Recently as I was driving, I flipped on the radio and the hosts of the station were sharing about their recent mission experience in Africa, serving the people of a small village in Uganda.

I listened as they shared stories of people they had met, and what God did through them during their time there, and I have to admit-- part of me felt insignificant in that moment.

Here I am just driving my mini-van down the road, and the only eventful thing I’ve done all day is to wrangle my son into some clean clothes and get us out the door.

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 A couple of days later, I was talking to my sister-in-law, telling her how I would love to go up to New York with a group from my church this summer. They’ll be gone for a week, helping set up a Christian camp for inner-city kids.

 Reality quickly hit me in the face:

 Oh yeah, I have a two year old at home who requires my constant care and a husband who needs me (we all know husbands can be needy at times too!). I can’t take a week away from my home and child to travel to New York!

 This season that I’m currently in often makes me feel as if I have a weight tied to my ankle. Folks from church are traveling overseas to serve people and spread the gospel while other friends are heading out on weekend retreats… and here I am stuck at home cleaning up dried food under the couch cushions.

 But that’s what I have to keep in perspective-- it’s a season. This is the season I’m in, and it’s okay.

 Here’s the real truth I’ve come to realize, friends: God has called me to serve and disciple one of His most precious gifts-- my child. He’s entrusted me with one of his very own to love and guide.

 What a wonderful and, at times, scary responsibility we have, not only to watch out for their physical well-being, but their spiritual well-being as well. I have the opportunity each day to be intentional and lead him one step closer to making a decision to follow Jesus.

 If you’re like me, everyday routine can allow us to forget that we each have a mission field in our very own home.  Don’t throw this season away, just living the day to day. 

 Every season has its trials, its joy, and most importantly, its purpose. We, as mothers, have been called to one of the most impactful missions: we are raising up the next generation of Christ-followers.

Let us enter our mission field each and every day with the excitement and anticipation as we would if we were serving God in another country, knowing that our work is meaningful-- we are entrusted with God’s own!

 

Word of the Day:

 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”  Proverbs 22:6

Prayer:
 Lord, help me never to lose sight of the mission field you have in front of me. Help me to be a shining light for you in the place and season that I am in NOW. Help me not to get caught up in just getting by day-to-day, but to be intentional, to disciple and love my child. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


Guest Author: Follow Amanda Becker on her blog, "The Tale of an Ugly House"