Have you ever noticed how sometimes we mothers would rather do housework than spend time with our children? Spending time cleaning the house has immediate rewards. By contrast, spending time with our children is an investment with rewards years into the future.
A bittersweet memory I have is when my oldest son was not more than 7. He said to me, “Mom, when you get all your work done, then will you play with me?” Now I know we shouldn’t indulge our child’s every whim, and I am a firm believer in schedules and independent playtime, but I knew that I had selfishly answered his earlier request for Mommy-time with, “I have work to do.”
Our children grow up so quickly, and the day may come when they don’t have time in their busy schedule for us. Let us take time with our children while they are young. Weigh the importance of each daily task, making sure your waking hours aren’t swallowed up with household tasks that are done just to impress your peers. Strive for balance. Instead of doing what we want, (which is often uninterrupted time to finish housework), our pattern should be the Man Christ Jesus, who said, “Not My will, but Thine, be done” (Luke 22:4242Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. (Luke 22:42)).