We all see it. The money coming in and the money going out. The bills that always show up. The debt (if you have it) always lurking.
There’s nothing like the overwhelm when something breaks and a large sum of money is needed to fix it. Let’s say, a clothes washer. “If only I could help provide for that?” I get it. I have been there. But let’s dive a little deeper into the guilt that would creep up in this situation.
It’s a Wednesday morning. You’ve already been up for three hours, fed kids, kissed them good morning, washed dishes, swept crumbs, and you remember… you never put the clothes into the dryer the night before. You can’t load the dryer until it is emptied, so you throw the pile of clothes onto your unmade bed. You go back to open the clothes washer to find it full of water. It never drained. Dollar signs instantly start flashing in your mind.
1. You don’t have to blame yourself.
Isn’t that where guilt stems from? Blame. We often put the blame on ourselves, without anyone else ever imposing blame towards us in any way. We have those negative thoughts that creep in. Friends, the Devil wants those thoughts to control you. He wants you to feel miserable and self-loathing.
You could not have stopped that clothes washer from breaking. It was inevitable, after being used hundreds upon hundreds of times. You did not sabotage the machine. It is causing a major inconvenience to you, why would you ever have caused it on purpose? Do not blame yourself.
2. Think of all the blessings that come from what you do.
So many times, we forget that we are blessing our home and families by being a stay at home mom. We can’t forget, even in the mountains of laundry and diapers, that we are doing something important.
So, the clothes washer is down for the count and we have to call the hubby and tell him the dreaded news.
Did you ever stop and think about all the laundry you have cleaned in that clothes washer for your family? Probably not. The situation only arose guilty feelings in you. You have made sure your family had clean clothes SO MANY times. It felt like a mundane task, but you made sure it was done, even if you had to rewash it because it sat wet for too long. (No judgment here!) Your family was clothed. What you do blesses others.
3. Money you earn doesn’t show your worth.
You didn’t make a penny of what it will cost to replace or repair the clothes washer. You did not go somewhere to physically earn a paycheck with your name on it. You feel like you can contribute nothing financially to this problem.
Oh, friend,…your worth is so much more than money!
Those countless hours of time you spend on your kids, spouse, and home are worth more than gold. You contributed by washing the clothes in the first place. The clothes washer only broke because it was being used by a loving mother and wife taking care of her family. That is something money will never buy someone. A loving mother and wife.
4. Prayer
You are doing something that God has called you to do. There will be hard times. Hard times that are beyond your control. You are not always at fault. If you don’t make a paycheck, you are still adding so much value to your home. You are there. They see you. They know who you are.
Do you know who you are? Prayer can help you find that. You can find peace and rest when you call upon His name. You are so valuable. You have so much worth.
Amy
Proverbs 31:10 KJV
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”
