“You’re going to another meeting again, Mom? Why do you always have to go to the church? I wish you weren’t the Children’s Minister so you could stay with us.”
Those words cut deep. They went straight to the core of my heart and cut it open. And in flooded the feelings of guilt. The guilt of being a working mom.
If any of you women out there work outside the home, then I’m sure at one point or another you have experienced the guilt that comes with being a working mom. And we all know that the guilt is real. So real that sometimes we just want to quit our jobs and love on our babies all the time.
Being a working mom has not been an easy road, either. Working full-time, raising 2 girls, being a wife to a wonderful husband, keeping up with laundry, housework, school work, soccer practices and games, gymnastics, and the many other duties of a mom is overwhelming at times. Sometimes I just want to blow the whistle and call for a time out. I need a breather. I need a minute to rest, to reassess my game plan, for the coach to encourage me, to get focused and not be bogged down with all the million details that encompass my life as a working mom. Some days we get that break and other days we don’t. But we keep working and providing for our family, even when those feelings of guilt hit us hard.
So how can working moms be rid of that terrible guilt that likes to lurk inside our hearts?
Here is a Spiritual Game Plan for the next time those guilty feelings hit:
Spiritual Game Plan for Working Moms
1. Start the day with Jesus
As soon as you rise, think about Jesus. Praise Him. Then get ready, grab your coffee and your Bible and start your day with Him. Spend time in His Word. Be still. Listen. Pray. Enjoy being in His Presence.
2. Seek wisdom from the Lord
As a parent, we need to seek wisdom from the Lord. We cannot do this parenting thing on our own. We need God to provide us with wisdom so we can know how to handle each moment in our lives. And we know that God will give it to us because it says in James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Don’t pass up the wisdom God freely provides!
3. Stay focused on your family when at home
Leave your work at the office. I know this is a hard one, especially if you work at a church. But somehow, find a way to keep your family the center of your attention when you are at home. Help them with their homework. Watch a tv show with them. Go outside and play with them. Let them help you cook supper. Listen to them. Just be the mom who is present with them when you’re at home.
4. Have family devotion time
We started a family devotion time this school year with our kids. As we sit around the dinner table, we do a devotion together. I picked out a family devotional from a Christian bookstore and we read it while we are eating. It asks questions for the kids to answer, provides Scripture, a short devotion, and prayer time. I am amazed at the good conversations we have with our kids about God while we eat dinner. Talking with your children about God is so important and what a better a time to do it then we you are all eating dinner.
5. Go to church as a family
My mother always said that Sundays are a day for us to go to church and worship God. We were always there unless we were out of town or one of us was sick. Unfortunately, in today’s world, there are many activities that keep us from making church a priority. I understand the pull of the world because I am a parent with kids who are involved in sports. I know it’s hard, but I believe that church is important for my family and the spiritual health of all of us. We all need to be a part of the body of Christ.
6. Pray with your kids
Carve out a time or two in your day to pray with your kids. Talk with them about what is going on in their lives. Ask them what they need prayer for. I always pray with my kids in the car on our way to school and then at bedtime as I tuck them in. And let me tell you, if I forget, then one of them is quick to remind me. Prayer time can be a special moment you share with your children.
7. Remember your kids will always love you, whether you work or not
There will be moments in your life when your kids will make you feel guilty for working. They will be sad you aren’t there for their game or practice or aren’t home when they go to bed. But, those are brief moments. Your kids will not harbor any ill feelings toward you for missing one of their important activities. They will forget all about it by the next day. They are going to love you no matter what because you are their mom.
Being a working mom is tough. You love your family so much and feel torn between your job and staying at home with them. I encourage you to let go of those guilty feelings. Know that you are a good mother. Know that your husband and kids love you. Stick to the spiritual game plan. Remember that God is your guide and He loves you very much. Put your total trust in Him. God will never leave you.