Moms Are Ministers

“It’s a girl! the nurse exclaimed as celebration filled the room!  My ministry of motherhood has begun with the birth of my daughter, Michala Anne Riggle.

            After David cut the umbilical cord that kept Michala connected to the inside of my body, the doctor placed her on my belly where I very quickly grabbed her and pulled her to my chest, and hugged her tightly as we began to make a bond and an emotional connection from outside my body.

            She was finally in my arms!  My joy was inexpressible!   David came around the side of the bed to be with me and Michala, and we enjoyed our first few moments as a “family.”     What an absolutely awesome blessing – to have a child – to be given the precious gift of a child to raise!        Later that same delivery day, I told my sister, Lisa, that giving birth to a child was “the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”  However, it was the days following, when I would be challenged to raise Michala and later her two brothers, Dawson and Evan, in the right, Godly way that would prove to be, “the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”  But I’ve never heard anyone claim that ministry is easy.  It is however, important, really important.  Important enough to commit yourself to doing this job well.  And doing this job well is going to take some divine help.

            Our priorities are those people, places and events that we give of ourselves and our energies.  It is of utmost importance that we make choices and set priorities in ways that help us reach our goals.

            I clearly remember a day when the Lord used my son Dawson’s first day of preschool to teach me a lesson about priorities.  I had been preparing Dawson for this big day for quite some time, trying to fill him full of confidence and assurance that going to preschool, and staying there without mommy would be a very good thing.  I prayed that Dawson would look forward to this day and that he would not have any anxiety, and I definitely did not want him to cry.  I knew I sure wouldn’t cry – I had been the stay-at-home mom of three precious children, and now for the first time since becoming a mother, all of my children would be in school!  I was looking so forward to that moment when it was just me in that car.       After taking Dawson’s siblings to their respective places of learning, I drove my way to his preschool.  I parked the car and turned around in my seat to unbuckle Dawson from his car seat.  With bravery and sincerity he said to me, “I’m really going to miss you today.”  My heart sank and I struggled to hold it together and not cry myself.

            I responded, “Oh Dawson, you’re going to have so much fun at preschool, the time will just fly by and before you know it, Mommy will be back to pick you up.”

            We got out of the car and walked hand in hand into the building and to his classroom.  With a hug and a kiss, a wave and a smile, Dawson bid me farewell.

            As I drove away, alone in my car, I felt the Holy Spirit nudging at my heart.  Too many days I get wrapped up in my busy tasks of motherhood and let the time fly by and get in my bed at night to hear the Lord say, “I really missed you today.”

            The Lord had a lesson for me that first day of preschool.  I must keep my focus on Christ every day.  He must be my priority.  He must take proper place in my schedule.  Whatever the cost, I must be d