Let the captives free!

After a long day of cleaning and cooking, I pick the kids up from school. I am exhausted and worn out. I have barely gotten anything done with chasing the twins from room to room. They seem to think it is alot more fun to destroy than to clean. With yet a longer list of things to do the next day. I have from 4-5 pm to get homework done, finish cooking dinner and slap a big smile on my face for the husband. Then comes dinner, dishes, bath time, laundry, etc, etc, etc. Do you ever dream of the day the kids come home only to say, "Hey, mom. I saw that you cleaned up. Can I ever thank you enough for the clean sheets. And the floors look great. I was real careful in the bathroom, because I could really tell you worked hard to get everything spotless. Mom, what would we do without you!?!" Then, your husband walks in. "Oh, honey, what an incredible job you have done today! Boy can I tell you have had a long day. Why don't we pack up and head out for dinner. I am sure that you are exhausted after such a job well done." Why is it that we crave a standing ovation over a toilet well cleaned? I can tell you girl! Being a mom doesn't always mean that your job gets a lot of thanks. In fact, the job of mothering can be a breeding ground for disappointment. How many times have I been there! Satan knows that and is ready for attack. Have you ever gotten disappointed and then realized that disappointment was just the beginning? Your thoughts are sometimes funny. For example, I have thought that my children were my arch enemies when they come home from school. Having to remind myself that they really did not plot against my clean floor by daring to eat Oreos and dropping their little crumbs everywhere! Then, when I find myself noting to never buy Oreos EVER AGAIN at the store, I come to my senses and realize that there is no mastermind plot to overcome the clean floor! Kids will be kids. More importantly though, I am realizing one of my major struggles as a mom is my thoughts. I can get stuck in this disappointment stage and my mind can take me where it shouldn't. Thinking I am a terrible mother. Thinking my husband must not really love me. Wondering if everyone would be better off without me. Daydreaming about getting a job where someone may think I do a good enough job to pat me on the back. Those are just some of the thoughts I struggle with. I can't help but think that I am not the only one. Satan is taking hold of me in just a tiny instance and proceeding to take God's plan out of my head. God put us all in this precious spot of mothering and our job is so important. Look at how many instances mothering resembles the life of Christ. We are servants, disciples, leaders, lovers, disciplinarians, and I am sure their is even more similarities than I have thought of spur of the moment. Claim a verse that will bring you out of thought captivity! I have started saying, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord My Rock and My Redeemer"!(Ps 19:14) Let the captives free!