Shaping Image Bearers

Standing in a crowded hotel lobby, my husband and I were looking around…every table seemed to be filled with guests who had made their way down to indulge themselves in the complimentary breakfast buffet. Scrounging for seats with two little ones, we finally found what seemed to be an open space. Shortly after settling for a less-than-ideal setup because it seemed to be the only one available (couches surrounding a coffee table as opposed to a booth and chairs better suited for wrangling toddlers), a woman approached us. She informed us that she had been sitting at our makeshift breakfast table, but that she was finished and we were welcome to continue making use of the space. We offered to move, assuring her that it wasn’t an issue. She responded by telling us no, stating…

“You have way more problems than I do…been there, done that.”

I was shocked. Problems? I’m sure to most people, the situation seemed daunting or at a minimum less than ideal…two children less than two years apart and an additional pregnant belly. But problems? That’s how she feels about her own children? That’s how she views mine? I couldn’t shake it.

As my husband and I took shifts filling our plates with breakfast food that tasted like exactly what it was – free – an infant across the room began to cry. Another mom with more little ones than we had was trying to comfort her baby. I passed by their table on my way to the buffet and felt a sense of comradery. 

She was in the thick of it too – probably surviving more than thriving most days. But somehow, judging by how they carried themselves as a family – you could tell by looking at any of them that she saw it all as a gift. That she would choose it over and over again, even in the hardest moments. 

The reality is, there are people in the church whose opinion isn’t that far off from the woman I exchanged pleasantries with in the lobby of that hotel. Individuals that view parenthood not through the lens of shepherding a human soul with the goal of eternal salvation in Jesus Christ, but through the disadvantages and inconveniences it may bring to their own lives. Instead of excitement over partnering with the Lord, there is eagerness to avoid allowing the Lord to bring forth life. Instead of rejoicing over the gift of life, there are comments and complaints about the sacrifice of being a mother. It comes in the form of sly remarks that are often delivered in the shape of jokes, but it settles like disapproval and judgement for not doing the “logical” or expected thing. God loves life, what more would the enemy love than to steal, kill, and destroy any opportunity for God’s Image to be brought forth?

In this season of walking so many through miscarriage, pregnancy loss, prenatal diagnoses that will most likely end in the worst kind of devastation, and infertility – while simultaneously feeling the movement of life inside of my womb that is currently being used as a home – my heart breaks for those who see life as a problem instead of a privilege. A pain instead of a calling. 

Don’t misunderstand me: there is no weight like that of motherhood.

But there is also no joy like that of motherhood.

And just because it is overwhelming difficult at times does not mean that it should be avoided or escaped from.

Here, here in the trenches of soul shaping – that is where we meet Jesus.

What an honor that God would choose me to raise His image bearers. What a devastation that there are those who don’t see them as such. That instead of seeing the handiwork of God, what is seen is distraction. As if there is any more important thing than the shaping of a human – however it is done.

Be encouraged, mama. The Lord sees you…he sees the struggles, the failures, the inadequacies, the challenges…and he still chose you to be their mom. He is with you in every moment, each one an opportunity for the gospel to be put on display.

Problems? No. Sanctifiers? Yes. Calling? Absolutely.

They are your calling, and the Lord will sustain you. Despite the opinions of anyone else.