ericandjen - "Mother To Many..."

I have heard this phrase spoken or written to me more than twice over the past six months of my life. " You are the Mother to many."

"Jen is the Make (pronounced ma-gay in Swaziland, meaning: mother) to many in Nsoko...."

"You are the mother to many in Swaziland..."

When you hear something once you might notice...when you hear something twice you definately take notice...more than twice...it is a message you are meant to hear...

Mother to many...

Of course I am mommy to my two wonderful children. Claire and Jacob are growing up and more independent by the day! However, I will always be their mama! When my daughter has a question about becoming a young woman...I am really the only one who can answer her! When my son is sick and needs a hot bath or some extra snuggles at bedtime...only I will do.

Eric and I have been active in ministry for most of the years of our marriage. I was pregnant with Claire during the first year of Eric's call as youth pastor. It has been an ongoing balancing act...figuring out what parts of our life/family belong to ministry and what parts belong to us. Can you ever really figure that out? What is there to figure out? Really?

Isn't it all ministry? Isn't the primary purpose of our lives on this planet to worship God, serve Him, bring Him glory, and invite His Kingdom to come to earth as it is already coming into heaven?

I think if you read the same Scriptures that I read...you will come to that exact conclusion.

Our lives are ministry...all of it...everything...every...thing...

What does that mean for you?

I can tell you what it means for me...

It means that some days, my ministry is to make my home comfortable and warm for my family.

It means that some days, my ministry is to homeschool my two kids; teaching and guiding them to the best of my ability.

It means that some days, my ministry is to encourage my husband and convince him that he is everything to me.

It means that some days, my ministry is to pour into and encourage our Swazi ministry partners that they are the most valuable assets to our work here in Nsoko.

It means that some days, my ministry is to make a ham and cheese sandwich for the young man who works in our yard...and help him with his homework...he might be 19...but his mama is dead and he hasn't finished high school...

It means that some days, my ministry is to hold a little boy on my lap who is covered in a rash...dry, scaly, itchy skin...but he still needs a loving touch.

It means that some days, my ministry is to sing "Jesus Loves Me" to a little girl who sits on my lap even though she has no underpants and doesn't have Charmin toilet tissue....yeah...kind of stinky....but she doesn't know that!

It means that some days, my ministry is to wipe countless runny noses with the hem of my shirt because the tissues have run out!

It means that some days, my ministry is to put a Band Aid on an invisible 'boo-boo' and give kisses, because sometimes that is all I can do...

It means...that some days...my ministry is to do ALL of that....

I find myself in a tiny, African country...with my beloved husband and two amazing kids who are all trying to hear what the Lord is saying to us. I am usually dirty, dusty,stinky and stomping on bugs! I often find myself surrounded by adorable (dirty, dusty,stinky and stomping!) kids looking to be picked up, hugged,kissed, and told they are loved.

I am the mother to many...

That is my ministry...

Eric is the father to many...