Investing at Home: Loving Those Closest to You
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain… Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.”—Psalm 127:1, 3 (ESV)
[This blog series is a reflection on some of the themes I have written on this blog.]
I’ll start with a confession: I was not one of those women who has always wanted to be a mom. Sure, I wanted kids, but if I’m honest, I imagined children fitting neatly into the life I had already planned. Like many women, I was trained to be career-minded, and that came first. I naturally assumed my vocational work must be the “good works” God had prepared for me (Eph. 2:10). I was not taught that hidden faithfulness at home counted just as much.
So when my first child arrived, I was quite unprepared for what motherhood would require of me. It didn’t take long before I realized that being a mother was not something I could just stuff on the sidelines while I pursued my goals in life. It began with late-night feedings and an entirely new schedule.
I thought the major sacrifice was stepping away from my career, but I soon learned that motherhood required something deeper than that. It is a life of discipleship--for both my children and me.
It started with changes in me: letting go of measurable outcomes and public affirmation for my work and allowing God to use the repetitive nature of my daily life to refine me. It was in these things that God was at work in my heart, changing what I believed about my significance. This internal work became the fuel and conviction I needed to disciple my children well.
This year, my oldest child will turn 30, meaning I’ve been a mom for over half my life. And in those three decades, God has taught me a lot—so much that instead of viewing children as an accessory to make my life happier, I have learned to see that they are actually God’s grace and goodness to me. There are no guarantees for faithful parents, yet I am at peace knowing I have invested faithfully—even if my children’s paths look different than I once imagined.
So many women want children but, for some reason or other, are unable to have them. In God’s kindness, He has blessed me with four, including an adopted child with a disability. Each of them has been “a heritage from the Lord,” a reward. Not an entitlement. Not a reflection of my competence. Simply a gift.
I didn’t always see it that way, especially as I struggled to love my adopted daughter. There were seasons when loving her did not feel natural or easy, but God used that struggle to expose both my limits and my need for His patient love.
Even now, as a mom of young adults, it is not a side assignment—it is part of my calling. It may look different, but these four people remain my primary focus in ministry. It is easy—even in subtle ways—to absorb the idea that productivity and public impact matter more than quiet faithfulness at home. But God’s ways are not the world’s ways. I’m still growing in faith that His values and ways are the only ones worth trusting.
Even if you do not have children, you still have the privilege of nurturing the life and faith of others. Who has God placed near you in this season to love, shape, encourage, or disciple? Whether you are a mother, a mentor, a teacher, a sister, or a faithful church member, God has entrusted people to your daily presence. And if you do have children, I hope these posts will help you more fully embrace and love them—for their good and for His glory.
Seeing Home as God’s Ministry
Whose House?: Home is ultimately God’s, not ours. Stewarding it faithfully is our act of worship and dependence.
Spiritual Motherhood: God calls women to nurture and disciple children and younger women in gospel-shaped ways. In this series, we develop a vision for nurturing children in faith, modeling gospel trust, and discipling younger women where possible.
Reflect: Where am I tempted to serve others while neglecting God’s gifts at home?
Nurturing Marriage: A Foundation For the Home
The Meaning of Marriage and The Mission of Marriage: Once children enter the home, it is easy to lose touch with our spouse. A strong marriage, rooted in covenant and shared mission, reflects Christ’s love and sets a stable foundation for our children. When we invest in our marriage, we create a family of grace and love for our children, with one strengthening the other.
This is challenging, and I certainly have not mastered it. Yet it is often through my struggles that I am reminded how much it matters.
Reflect: How is my marriage foundation? How am I demonstrating Christ’s love to my spouse in ordinary moments?
Discipling Our Children in Daily Life
Growing Gospel Kids: In this series, we look at how we disciple our children through modeling, teaching, disciplining, and praying daily, starting with the very youngest and through the teen years. We look at how ordinary bedtime routines, meal conversations, and shared work can become mentoring moments.
Reflect: What small, daily investment today might shape my child’s eternal path?
Keeping an Eternal Perspective
Marriage and family are God-ordained institutions that are more than just social constructs. They are reflections of God’s good heart. However, because of sin, they will always include conflict and struggle.
The good news for us as believers is that we are not left alone to figure this out. The Holy Spirit resides in us, helping us through the daily routines and inviting us to see how He is at work. He empowers us to bless our spouses and children, even when we are tired and weary. He gives us the creativity and resourcefulness we need to make the most of the opportunities presented to us each day in our rhythms and routines.
