A Great Work! (Guest Post)

I'm so excited to share a guest post with you all today! Thanks to Danielle for sharing this great post...
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As moms, we can be torn in so many directions. More lists, more organization, more groups, more blogging, more shopping, more cleaning, more sports and classes, more demands at work, more driving, more things to volunteer for. It’s enough sometimes to make our heads spin and never know how to slow down. How will we know when to say “NO” and prioritize what is best for our children and us?

Let us not forget that just as in all things in our lives, there are seasons of parenting.  Meaning sometimes we need to be saying more “No’s” in order to stay focused on our kids and be the mom or dad that God has called us to be. Check out what the bible says in Nehemiah 6.3-4:

So I sent messengers back with this: “I’m doing a great work; I can’t come down. Why should the work come to a standstill just so I can come down to see you?” Four times they sent this message and four times I gave them my answer.

Now Nehemiah was working hard and not once, or twice, not three times, but FOUR different times messengers came to him with messages that would cause him to stop doing his work! He declined all four times because he was focused on what his priority was and what God had called him to do. He knew that the job set before him was a “Great work!”

Try looking at your parenting today and tell yourself, "it's a GREAT work! I cannot come down." You'll be amazed at how it helps narrow your focus and you'll be able to say "No" to the things you don't need to do now and maybe just need to wait and do in another season. Saying "No" is not because you are out of balance or even that you don't want to do some of those things. But rather, it helps you to narrow your focus on what is the most important thing.

Stay the course! The job you are doing as a parent is "a great work.” It is hard work. No doubt. But remember, it’s a GREAT work!

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Danielle is a wife of 1 and a mom of 3. She blogs at MomWithAMinivan.com about Parenting and Christian Faith. Between diaper changes and cleaning up Pre-School size messes at home, she finds time to tweet @momwithaminivan.