Contentment

"But godliness with contentment is great gain."  

 1 Timothy 6:6

Contentment in motherhood.

Can it be had?  Can one truly be content, fulfilled, while cleaning toilets and wiping noses?

Day.  After day.  After day?

Everywhere you look, the general message given to younger women is "get out and get away".  "You need to recharge and catch your breath".  "You need to pamper yourself and have some fun!"  Many even offer, "your marriage will never last unless you leave your kids weekly and get out!"

Younger women often express that there is never enough of what is needed...  There is never enough time to be alone, time to spend with their husband without the children, time to spend with girlfriends, to travel, to get to the gym, to the spa or to the beach.

If our God supplies all our needs, if he is our provider, then why are we in need?  Or are we?  Are the things we lack necessities?  Is our attention on that which it should be on?  Is our attitude adjusted as it should be?

What about our focus?  Is it on Christ... or is it really on ourselves?

When women do go and leave their family and responsibilities behind in search of a break, what is the reentry like?  Are they rejuvenated, or left wanting more as they enter back into the reality of unclean laundry and hungry children?

Unfortunately, the advice often offered to women and the messages our culture gives leads to wanting more time away, as does the sinful nature.  We are told we are deserving of more freedom, yet doesn't freedom come with obedience to Christ?  We are led to believe we will lose our sanity if we are cooped up at home, particularly with small children.

Discontentment rises.  There is never enough.  We are taught that happiness, joy, and contentment can't be had at home.

These desires, this advice all run contrary to scripture.  Life is not about us.  Me.

"But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine...  Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,  and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,  to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled."  Titus 2:1, 3-5


Jesus, the King, came to serve not to be served.  

If we are to be sanctified with Christ should we not follow his example?  As mothers, he has put husbands and children in our lives for us to serve.  Contentment must not be something we seek outside of our position as wives and mothers, but should be something that overflows from our joy in serving Christ through service to our families.  Joy, fruit, born of the Spirit's active work within and through us.

Again, following Christ's example, our time alone should be in communion with the Father, and spent with those who will encourage us to fulfill our calling and edify our families and our roles as wives and mothers.  Our time spent away should not be reserved for self indulgence.  Escape does not equal rest.  Fleeing from responsibility will not rejuvenate.

Our time is not our own.  An egocentric lifestyle does not achieve contentment.  Contentment can only be had when we learn to have it.  It takes action and intentionality, but Christ provides the strength.  The strength for us to do all things through Him.  The strength to be consistent.  The strength to not only get through the mundane, but to be joyful as we wash dishes and wipe bottoms.

It is not escape or avoidance that restores, that fills the void.  Christ alone can fulfill.

I am truly thankful for the privilege of serving the husband and children God has given me.... 

The apostle Paul said, "...for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."

... and I am learning.