Tuesday Truth- Are Moms of Littles Exempt from Serving Christ?

As parents, we’re the primary disciplers of our children, and I believe part of that is modeling for them what it looks like to serve Christ and teaching them to do the same. We have the sweetest memories with our boys from bringing them along in the ministry with us (like them learning to ice skate!)! I wanted this lie that we’re exempt from serving if we’re moms to be a Tuesday Truth topic, so I reached out to Kimmy from On Mission Moms. Through On Mission Moms, Kimmy shares practical ways we can serve with our children, so I knew she’d be perfect to tackle this topic. I’m excited for you to read what the Lord has laid on her heart!

By: Kimmy LaMee

There are many common lies that moms have taken hold of in the church recently (or maybe not so recently) and one of those is that when we have little ones, we can’t possibly still serve inside and/or outside of the church anymore. I know and I get it and hear it all the time, “We’re just sooooo busy.” Or you may think, “I can’t serve because I have little ones and they will be ‘distracting’ to the mission.” Or maybe you’ve just thought in your mind and heart, “it’s just tooo hard!”

I remember when my oldest was just 18 months, my hubby and I were invited to go on a
mission trip to Boston to partner with a church planting partner there. We knew that we were supposed to go and we knew that we also were supposed to bring our sweet girl with us. It wasn’t easy though. I’m a planner at heart so thousands of questions began to fill my heart as a new mom. I was worried that we would be in the way more than we would be able to serve. I was preoccupied with making sure she had all she needed first (and that’s not always a bad thing). I even began to wonder if it was even worth all the hassle to actually go. Little did we know that because she was with us, we would be able to have conversations with people about the gospel and the new church that would not have taken place otherwise. One day in particular she was worn out and the park was right beside where our team was working to pick up trash in preparation for a big town festival. I took her to the park and wouldn’t you know that God would bring a sweet grandmother with her little grand baby to swing right beside us. Because we were
there, I was able to share and invite this sweet lady to this great new church! Now I don’t know the end result, but I know that for me, it solidified in my heart that my children were a part of the mission too and when and as often as I could, I should always allow them to be a part of God’s great work too!
So what does God’s word say about serving the Lord to busy moms?

• Matthew 28:18-19 says, that “Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the nations of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
• Acts 1:8 says, that while Jesus was with them, He said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
• Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
• Matthew 25:35, “For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in, I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.”
• 1 Peter 4:11b, “whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.”
• Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:58, “My dear brothers and sisters, stay firmly planted – be unshakable – do many good works in the name of God, and know that all your labor is not for nothing when it is for God.”

While many of these verses aren’t necessarily spoken directly to mamas, they don’t exclude us moms from serving and aren’t you thankful! In fact, several of the verses are addressed to brothers AND SISTERS! Isn’t that such a joy to know that as moms when we often feel unseen in our day to day work, we are seen and told to “get busy about the things of God.”

While having little ones most definitely doesn’t exclude us from serving, I do believe that we can and must be creative in our serving. While we may not have the freedom to hop on a plane and fly around the world (some do though!), we can still serve the Lord and make disciples of all nations right where we live and serve. In fact, I believe that Jesus commands and expects us to be moms who love Him with our whole heart and serve Him with our whole lives.

So what does it look like to serve with our little ones practically? Here are just a few tips as we strive to serve with our little ones and raise them to love Jesus and others.

1. We have to know what our own children can and can’t handle.
2. If we are looking to partner with a specific agency, we must know what their policies about children serving are.
3. Serving and living on mission can encompass lots of avenues like giving, praying, sending, going, learning, and welcoming. Involving our children in all of these different avenues helps them see the importance of all the many ways we love and serve.
4. Serving the Lord doesn’t have to “look” perfect. We are building and growing and learning and we just have to start somewhere.
5. Always make sure to debrief with your little one about the experience and point out why you are serving. I like to read children’s books with them typically centered around the topic or way we are serving. I also like to remind them through scripture of God’s commands to share His love with others.

As we read in a previous “Tuesday Truth” post on studying God’s word, we place our time in things we value. Do you value serving the Lord and making His name known to the nations and your town? Is your heart burdened for the lost and the broken? If so, you will find time and creative ways to be about His Mission, even as a busy mom, even when it’s hard and not convenient, even when…

May we be mamas who love and serve Jesus and lead our little ones to do the same!

More Resources:

• Missional Motherhood by Gloria Furman
• Articles I’ve written on serving in in this season of motherhood and also serving through sending
• On Mission Moms- Check out links to connect with this ministry below.

Meet Kimmy: On Mission Moms was launched by Kimmy LaMee. She’s the wife of Dan and mother of two silly gals. They are learning together that they must be intentional to live “On Mission” in their homes, at their job, and with their neighbors and friends. Kimmy served as the Director of Local Missions and Mobilization at First Baptist Spartanburg for nearly five years, but stepped down to be a full time mommy to their girls, who are growing way too fast! Kimmy also served in North Africa for two years (and dated Dan long distance that whole time – that’s a whole other story!). She is also a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Together they have served from Spartanburg to Boston to South Africa to the Middle East (20 weeks pregnant – whew!) and most recently a trip to encourage friends and workers serving in Central Asia.
Ways to connect:
Email: onmissionmoms@gmail.com
Instagram: @onmissionmoms
Facebook Page : @onmissionmoms
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/onmissionmoms