I never saw myself as a stay-at-home mom. I love to work. I studied diligently in college, toiled at my job, climbed the ladder, earned multiple letters after my name… and I was going to “throw it all away” by staying at home with my child? When I was on maternity leave with my first baby, I agonized about going back to work – consulting with many, praying, and asking for prayer. I returned back to work part-time and once again experienced the burnout and overwhelm that came with a demanding job, plus the code-switching between work and mom and homemaking, in the midst of a global pandemic. Two surprise babies later, it became clear that God had another path for me (Proverbs 16:9) and that he would fully remove this idol in my life until I learned to depend on Him completely. Where I had once boasted in my own efforts, I would now be faced daily with my failure. Sins that I thought I had overcome resurfaced in the refining fire of parenthood. It was clear that God had a work to do in me that had nothing to do with my outward appearance to the world – He wanted to deal with my heart (1 Samuel 16:7).
Parenting and motherhood may look like “small things” to the world as opposed to a big successful career. It may feel meaningless without thousands of followers of your tradwife homestead lifestyle (God help us). These small things of caring for your home, raising your children, cooking dinner, packing lunches, and in some cases schooling your children might be looked down upon as insignificant at worst or at best a “given” that you have to do while you also do “real work” outside the home. And yet, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,so that no human beingmight boast in the presence of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)
God has opened my eyes to the work of the women in our church as I spend time in community with them. These are the Proverbs 31 women who are never idle, serving the church and their families, making meals for the new parents and the sick, speaking wisdom and faithfully instructing other women and the next generation, training their children in the way they should go and receiving blessings from their children and husbands. I was a fool to listen to the voice of our culture that staying home was “a waste,” for the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight (1 Corinthians 3:19). God does kingdom work through the fellowship, prayer, and service of moms.
Are you home doing the “foolish” work of motherhood and homemaking? Are you in need of the fellowship of believers and the wisdom of other women? Are you tempted to despise the small life that God has given you?
On Thursday mornings twice a month, a group of women get together for a play date, coffee and snacks at each others’ homes, called Pray and Play. We let the kids play while we talk, and then we spend the last 30 minutes in prayer for one another, our children, loved ones, and our church. I have gained some of the richest parenting, life, and biblical wisdom from these talks. I and others have been blessed by Spirit-filled prayer. We have laughed hysterically, bore each others’ burdens, cried with one another, and encouraged each other with words, prayer, and deed. I urge you to join us if you are home with little ones during the day. We are also looking for seasoned moms and women at home to join us by hosting get togethers and sitting in to pray with us and offer wisdom – we would benefit greatly from your experience! You can email prayandplay@graceredeemer.com for more information. While a play date, praying, talking, and snacking may seem like a “small thing,” God in His wisdom uses it to bear much fruit.
Sonja Ommundsen and her family have been attending GRC for 11 years and she coordinates the Pray & Play Ministry.