Yesterday I officially became a published author! The best way I can describe it is as if it were my birthday (which I love my birthday!) coupled with the anticipation and relief of finally giving birth after the longest pregnancy ever. Absolutely exhilarating! But despite the amazing Book Launch Luncheon with friends and fun celebration evening with my family it was still Monday.
Mondays for me usually include laundry, gym, grocery, house cleaning, cooking and other errands. And to some extent yesterday was no different. I got up early to run, did multiple loads of laundry, made lunches, went to the bank, scheduled the plumber and met him at the house to deal with the toilet that overflowed on Saturday, called the high school to send a transcript to a university, organized carpool and attended parent/teacher conferences at two different schools for all three children.
Though these things were squeezed into an otherwise totally unique day, tending to these mundane tasks made me completely aware of the fact that just because I am now published and my overly generous friends are calling me “famous” (lol 🙂 ), I am still the same “me” with the same primary calling and responsibilities as a wife and a mom.
The truth is it is tempting to find greater worth and significance in our job titles, performance and other roles than in sacrificially loving and serving those who mean the most to us. But contrary to the world’s way of thinking, our identity was never meant to be found in our accomplishments, successes, careers, influence or affluence. And if that is our focus, our family will suffer (and so will we) as we continue to seek after the next big deal.
So I was reminded that though the day in and day out stuff of life seems tedious and unexciting, the truth is most of life is lived like it’s Monday – doing normal, routine, typical stuff. Not the mountain top highs of getting published, receiving an award, a promotion or going on vacation.
I find that grounding in an age of social media when its easy to look at the pictures and think everyone’s life is more exciting. And to be honest, my own pictures from yesterday could convey that. But in keeping an eternal perspective I know true life is found in a life centered around Christ and only He gives true, lasting joy, contentment and identity. If this is true for me, it is also true for my kids and therefore of the highest priority for me to diligently shepherd them through the daily moments so they too find their signficance in Him.
When I view my calling as a wife and a mom through the eternal perspective of reflecting Christ, so they see more of Him through me, there is great purpose even in the mundane. I can now tackle my to-do list as blessing my family and find great joy and significance in serving them and others. And when I consider the cost of not being fully present for these things, it helps me see how vitally important living in the smallness of life really is!
