Do Everything...

On my short car ride into the office this morning, I balanced the steering-wheel with my knee, while taking sips of my hot chai latte, fumbling through the radio stations with my free hand.  Dangerous multi-tasking at its finest.

As the numbers on the stations grew higher, nearing the brink of starting at the beginning, I paused on the local contemporary Christian station...a station I rarely listen to.  Not because I don't like it, but sometimes its the same songs on a loop.  I prepared to pass, but paused when the announcer introduced the next song by Steven Curtis Chapman titled, "Do Everything."  I sort of laughed to myself and quietly made a snide remark, "I do everything...I'm a mom!"   As I listened to the first verse I realized I was hooked by the words:

You’re picking up toys on the living room floor

for the 15th time today

Matching up socks and sweeping up lost

Cheerios that got away

You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips

and head out the door

And while I may not know you I bet I know you

Wonder sometimes does it matter at all

Well let me remind you it all matters just as long as you

Chorus:

Do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you

Cause He made you to do

Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face

And tell the story of grace

With every move that you make

And every little thing you do

I don't know if it was the fact that I didn't fall asleep until after 2am or that B and I had a little argument intense moment of fellowship last night, but my eyes started burning and I couldn't stop the tears from spilling over.   The words of the song spoke encouragement into this over-tired mama.  I have been stretched in so many directions, and I've wondered about my effectiveness. 

But, this morning, alone in my car, listening to a song I had never heard before, I couldn't help but be reminded that I didn't miss a step somewhere along the way.  There wasn't a path I was supposed to take that led to bigger and better things.  There wasn't an opportunity that I should have taken that would have changed my life forever and allowed me to make my mark on the world. 

Being a wife, a mom, a youth leader, and a homeschool teacher was all in HIS plan.  The world fools us into believing that if we're not out there making it big or making a name for ourselves, then we are not making an impact.  I haven't taken a backseat to life, nor am I sitting on the sidelines.

I am in the trenches.  I'm doing the small things...making lunches...  listening to imaginative stories...detangling little curls...giving hugs...wiping tears and noses...singing songs...sharing about Jesus and His unending love...and yes...even picking up cheerios off of the floor.

It all matters.

Being there for our friends, husbands, children and family matters.

Doing all that we do with a cheerful heart as unto the Lord matters.

Being grace, mercy, love and compassion matters.

Doing every seemingly little thing because it is what HE created us to do matters.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:17