I recently finished reading this book. It has been a real encouragement to me! Before having Mercy almost two years ago, I had been working full-time for 10 years in a job outside of the home that paid a salary based on my 40+ hours per week of work. When Mercy was 9 months old, I resigned from that job. As it turned out, my job fanned the flames of my ego, provided a lot of affirmation and also was a large part of who I was and how I was known, at least in my church and in the missions world, as I was serving at a large international church-planting organization, Pioneers. It was also a job that allowed me to use my gifts of administration, teaching, and leadership. There were challenging times but also fun and energizing times.
Enter motherhood: a full-time job with hours that are not at all 9-5, Monday through Friday. Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful to have this new job! But it has been and is a real transition for this Type A perfectionist, Enneagram 1. (Our motto is: Let’s make the list and check it all off, people! Start the project and then get it done!) 😉
This book, Glory in the Ordinary, has been a sweet reminder that this new work of mine does matter and does have eternal impact. And no matter if you are a full-time work-outside-the-home Mom or a full-time work-inside-the-home Mom, this book will probably encourage your heart too. Even in the first chapter, the author’s encouragement to look at our work through God’s eyes instead of our own helps me to let God set the standards for how my time is spent and what does or doesn’t get done. This isn’t about comparing or measuring up to some other mom out there. We are all on this journey together, and it will look different for each of us! But if you are following Jesus with your life, then you need only to get your performance review from Him.
I plan to write 1 or 2 more posts with my summary on a few of these chapters from Courtney Reissig’s book. Until then, let’s walk and rest in the freedom that at the end of the day, it’s our faithfulness that matters, working for the Lord and not for man as we raise our Kingdom Kids. (Col 3:23-24)