It is 8:42 pm, and my house looks like a bomb went off. Inside-out and mismatched socks litter the living room floor, library books sprawl lazily across the couches, and thirty-two fingerprinty water glasses gather for a conference on the kitchen counters. The dishwasher needs filling and the laundry needs folding and five sets of teeth need to be inspected before they are sent off to bed.
When the last child has asked the last question before finally acquiescing to bedtime, I stand in my living room in a state of shell-shocked exhaustion, assessing the damages. Every surface of my home looks like it has suffered a direct hit, and I feel responsible, as if my home wouldn’t look so much like Ground Zero if I was just…better at this.
I didn’t keep up very well today. The house looks like a war zone, I sigh.
It looks like a war zone because it is a war zone.
The words crowd out my thoughts before I can stop them. It is a war zone, and you are at war.
I gasp, because I have forgotten. In my self-criticizing, I have forgotten all that I have done today to raise up a mighty little army and to equip them for battle. Now, at the end of the day, my house reflects the effort that has gone in to the more important task of preparing my children for war.
It’s just that it doesn’t seem like war when I hold my children on my lap and sit with them at their desks and serve them at the table. But it is. I do not like to look into their sweet, innocent little faces and think that they are engaged in a battle for their souls. But they are. I do not like to think that our enemy will stoop so low as to rob the cradle. But he does.
It is a war, and I must spend my days pouring truth into my babies, demonstrating love, and fighting against sin—both mine and theirs—because I only get one chance to arm them well. Already the enemy is noticing weaknesses, looking for chinks, and hoping I’m too busy cleaning the kitchen to notice them myself.
But I know that one day, they’ll have to face him alone. One day, I won’t be there to gird them up. So every day, we’re hauling out the armor, messing with swords, and building up defenses.
It makes an awful mess of the living room.
But then, war isn’t pretty. It is messy and exhausting. It requires so much focus, dedication, and perseverance that other things simply cannot get done. We don’t always have time to put the tanks back where we found them because we are just too busy keeping them loaded.
Some days, it’s all we can do to make sure everyone makes it out alive.
If my house looks like a war zone on those days, then let it be. Those are shields and swords littering the living room floor, not sippy cups and Nerf guns. This is a battleground, and I am raising an army.
Today, it just happens to look like it.
100 Beautiful Days of Motherhood, #? I have so lost track of numbers.
So, so true. Happy you realize it and are spreading the word.
I feel the same way. I’m fighting against sin in my own life as well as in the lives of my children. Fighting for godly character, for walking in forgiveness, for being kind to each other. Sometimes I’m exhausted just from the spiritual stuff that goes on. I pray every day that my children will grow to maturity in Christ.
Somehow I missed this when you posted it but that’s only because Jesus knew just precisely when this week I needed to read it. THANK YOU for writing this. It is so encouraging to know that we are not alone battling, even when we are each in our own homes and it can FEEL that way. I know I need the reminder that my sisters are out there everyday fighting the same kinds of battles.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the SAME KINDS of suffering are BEING EXPERIENCED by your BROTHERHOOD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.” ~1 Peter 5:8-9
Now I will go read this to Joseph. Tonight, he was my hero as he battled a fierce one with me.
As a homeschooling mother, this was extremely encouraging to me. We all need to be constantly aware of the spiritual battle that we are are a part of! Even on the most “peaceful” of days, Satan is working craftily, but praise God, we do hold the victory when we cling to Christ. He is an awesome Commander to stick with!
Amen to that!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this post!!! I am sitting at the table with the kids and Anthony and we’re all whooping and hooting and hollering for you guys! Jonathon is in the ZONE. LOL! This is so great!!!
On a serious note, what encouragement. God has really gifted you with writing. Thank you for allowing us to share in the journey.
Thank you, Amanda. And yes, it’s a good thing Jonathan isn’t any taller. 🙂
Keep up the good work!!!
Thanks, Mom!
Amen. May god richly bless you and arm you as you fight the good fight for you and yours. Put on His armor every day, dear one. You have the greatest job in the world and He will help you raise your/His “army.”
Thank you, Gail. It is the greatest job in the world, that’s for sure, and it is a joy to watch these little warriors grow!
Needed this reminder going into today! Thank you!
You are very welcome.
Wow. That was such a great read and I needed that today. Thank you!!!