“Today I am weary.” That was a part of a letter I recently wrote to a friend. Her response was very encouraging to me, so I asked if I could use it in a Mom’s Corner. Here is what she said.

“The purpose of this fax is to encourage you to keep laying the foundation. I know that you do not want to quit; keep building. Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit. These years will be over so quickly. There will be no more diapers to change (of children belonging to us); no more babies to nurse; no more toddlers to crawl into our lap or to tug at our skirts or to open the door to the bathroom when we are in there. All too soon the door will stay shut; our laps will be empty; there will be time to do all the ‘things’ that we think we’d like to do. But Teri, will that make us happy? No. What will bring joy to our hearts are the memories we hold of our children, and of the times we had together with them. So, let us make diaper-changing a memorable experience. Let us build memories while making supper. Let us lay the foundation for future generations, moment by moment, in the lives of our children.” Sandy

This is so good for me to keep in mind. I am always having an influence on my children either for good or bad, whether I am rested or weary. When I am tired, feeling overwhelmed, can I let go of what I think I have to do? What will count for eternity? What do I want my children to remember about me? Will they remember a mom who fussed and nagged at them? Will they remember a pleasant, tender mommy who smiled at them, loved them, and encouraged them even when she was tired? Our attitude and how we approach a situation makes all the difference! Does it matter if all the schoolwork is finished, the house is tidy, and the laundry done? I don’t want it to if the only way to accomplish it is with negative emotion from me. Yes, these things are goals I will work toward, but please, Lord Jesus, only when I can pursue them sweetly and patiently.

What opportunities the Lord gives us each day to learn to depend fully on Him! I am not capable of being the mother I want to be, and that I know He wants me to be, in my own strength. I am aware of that every day when I see how I react naturally to things that are difficult. I want to learn to cry out to the Lord for His strength, grace, and mercy throughout my day. I can testify that as we have hearts that desire to please the Lord, He does the work in us. He has worked many changes in my life from a mommy with three small children who could hardly wait until they were in school full time to where I am now. Was it a special formula? Seven steps to change? An overnight miracle? No, but a faithful Savior working in a sinful mother’s life over the course of twenty years.

Perhaps you are caught in the middle of an overloaded schedule. If irritation is creeping into your interactions with your children, can you ask yourself, “Will this count for eternity?” When you are exhausted, will you rest and let tomorrow’s worries take care of themselves? “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:33-34). Build the foundation with your children one moment by one moment.