How to Make an Ordinary Moment Extraordinary

Today’s blog post is an excerpt from my upcoming book, The SuperMom Myth: Conquering the Dirty Villains of Motherhood (Shiloh Run Press), which releases in just four short weeks. But why wait? Starting today, join me here every Tuesday in November for a series of sneak peeks inside The SuperMom Myth. 

Confession. Once upon a time, I wanted to be a rock star. I’m not talking about a child’s pipe dream here—this was a real, adult ambition of mine for many years. I earned a college degree in contemporary music and pursued some singer/songwriter goals before I met and married my husband and settled into domestic life.

What about you? What were your dreams before kids?

I hear a lot of women, especially stay-at-home moms, struggle to define themselves according to their accomplishments or “lack” thereof. As if this child-rearing, laundry-sorting, jelly-spreading life—for which we traded all our worldly potential—is nowhere near as important as drilling wells in Africa, running a boardroom, or winning a Grammy.

We wrestle with the monotony of it all. The homework, the potty training, the vacuuming and carpooling—it’s just so dull and unglamorous.

And yet, ordinary moments have extraordinary value in God’s eyes. He has never been as concerned with our performance as he is with our hearts. Do you have a heart to follow Jesus no matter your circumstances? No matter the audience? Parenting affords multiple opportunities day after day to do God’s work. It’s as simple as turning an ordinary moment into a teachable one.

On the drive to school one day, down the same route across town that my daughters and I have traveled for years, a truck swerved into our lane. I reacted quickly and avoided harm, praise God. But then the other driver flipped us off, as if the whole thing had been my fault.

“What was that signal that guy just made, Mom?” My daughters are beautifully innocent. Thankfully the gentle reply from my mouth did not betray the thoughts in my head.

“Nothing you need to worry about, my love.” Seriously, dude? You’re the one who almost ran into ME! “It just means he is angry and unkind.” What is WRONG with people these days?

I caught my daughters’ eyes in the rear-view mirror and exhaled a puff of air from my nose. Immediately I saw God handing me an opportunity—so I took it.

“Girls,” I declared, “we need to pray for him.”

“Mom!” My preschooler gasped, her eyes wide with a fresh idea. “We can tell him about how Jesus died for his sins! He can be white as snow!”

And that, fellow moms, is an ordinary moment turned extraordinary.

Someday, when I get to heaven and stand in awe of my Redeemer, I don’t think He will ask me why I never wrote a top-ten radio hit. I doubt He will ask about my quantity of Twitter followers or my job title or how many times I made the cover of my college alumni magazine.

Instead, these are the questions I’m preparing to answer: Did I love well? Forgive much? Did I share Jesus with other people and encourage my children to follow him?

Did I obey when no one else was looking?

I believe God did choose you and me for greatness. You’re a great mom. I’m a great wife. We’re all a great work in progress, because our God is great, and we are His.

Click here to learn more about The SuperMom Myth: Conquering the Dirty Villains of Motherhood.

Blessings,
Becky

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Week 3 of The SuperMom Myth Share Giveaway

Introducing my new Shareables page!

It’s time for another giveaway—and this week I have new stuff to share! Click here to access The SuperMom Myth Shareables page, containing several original images for sharing on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, or wherever you like to hang out online. Each image features a quote from the book. The more you share, the more chances you have to win!

This week’s prize is near and dear to my heart—a collection of my favorite things.

1. Music has always been a big part of my life. As a worship team vocalist I love finding songs that speak to my heart and give voice to the gratitude and joy I feel toward my Heavenly Father. So I chose these three Lyrics for Life wall plaques from Dayspring, which turn favorite praise songs into home decor. I still can’t sing “We Will Remember” without choking up, can you?
2. I searched the mall for the perfect infinity scarf to include in this giveaway, and I finally found it at Maurice’s. Super soft and flowy. I should’ve bought one for myself, too. (I love infinity scarves.)
3. Since I’ve had to limit refined sugar for tummy health reasons, I’ve learned to appreciate good quality treats. I have a couple of these Wisconsin Bar salted caramel dark chocolate bars stashed in my sock drawer for rare cheating occasions. And a friend introduced me to Heavenly Organics mint patties with just three ingredients—cocoa, honey, and peppermint oil. So tasty!
4. Remember when people used to write notes and letters and cards? I’m buried in social media as much as anybody, and yet I still appreciate the value of a handwritten message of encouragement. This box of 50 correspondence cards and envelopes from Dayspring are perfect for popping in the mail, handing to a friend, or stuffing in your tween’s lunch bag.
5. Several years ago, a choir director introduced me to Throat Coat tea. It contains licorice root, which is supposedly good for soothing the throat (singers need this) but it also adds an unusual flavor, which I’ve grown to like better than any other tea.
6. Boot socks. Tall boots. Wisconsin weather in the fall and winter. You cannot have one without the others. Love me some fashionably cozy boot socks, uh-huh.

One random winner will receive all of this fabulous stuff! Thank you for spreading around the Shareables this week!
a Rafflecopter giveaway