My Contribution

My daughter turns 5 this coming Sunday. I have a hard time with how quickly time is passing. I remember laying in the hospital bed all hooked up, working through the contractions. My parents and a friend were there along with my husband. When it was time to push, everyone but Jamin was hurried out of the room. They made it to the end of the hall, took a picture in front of a sign that said no waiting in the hallways before they heard the music. They didn’t believe that it could be her so quickly, but sure enough they were called right back in to meet my Ruby.

I have been fortunate when it comes to the delivery as all three of my children were born with a single push. The hospital she was born at played music throughout the hospital when a baby was born. My Ruby was born to music, there was rejoicing in her birth. I believe it’s fitting for her though as she has a spirit of worship. She loves to sing! She does sometimes sing songs that you or I know, but more often she sings her own songs. Things that come out of her heart. Singing to Jesus how much she loves Him, and it blesses me to hear her.

I love to see in my children the God given gifts that they possess. As I said, my Ruby is a worshiper. It’s a natural gift for her to sing and to worship. My oldest, Jones, is a natural leader. He has a shepherd’s heart. He feels for those around him and is empathetic to what they go through, but he’s strong and is not afraid to take the lead. My youngest, Virginia, I’m not entirely sure yet since she’s only three, but I believe I can see the heart of an encourager. She loves to be silly and make others laugh. I call her my “lovebug” because she loves to love on you and when she does, she LOVES on you.

I don’t say these things to brag on my children, but these are things I recognize in them. It’s my job as their mother to see this and to nurture them. I want to encourage them to rise in the gifts that God has given to them. I want to teach my son to be a leader, but I must nurture it the right way. It’s my job to teach him the difference between being a leader and a bully. I want Ruby to continue to sing and I must be careful to not squash the dream that lives within her. Virginia can love hard, but she can swing the opposite direction just as fast. It is up to me to teach her how to deal with her anger.

With Christmas just around the corner, I have been enjoying the Christmas music. I’ve been listening to “Mary Did You Know?” on repeat. I often think of my children when I hear that song. I love to shower them with kisses and I can’t imagine kissing the face of God! The task she was given is beyond anything I can imagine. And though I do not raise God Himself, I am still tasked with raising my children to be as Christ-like as possible. I feel the weight of this task every day that I look at them and see Him. Every day that I see how He made them. Knowing how much He loves them and knowing there is a task for them to one day accomplish.

Another favorite song is “Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant. She sings “do you wonder as you watch my face, if a wiser one should have had my place.” I so often feel as though I’m failing, but then I am reminded that He gifted these children to me. That He entrusted me to raise them up.

I am far from being a perfect mother, but I see what God has given me to do. I am challenged to raise my children to know who they are in Him. To raise them to have a relationship with Him so that He may one day explain to them what it is He created them to do; to worship, to lead, to teach, to encourage, to prophesy, to dream, to give.

There’s a popular saying that goes, “Your greatest contribution to the Kingdom of Heaven may not be something you do, but someone you raise.” And while my children may be my greatest contribution, it is still something that I must do. I must be active in raising them to be Christ-like because they too will one day have a contribution to make to His Kingdom. Let us be active today, tomorrow and every day that follows.