The God Who Sees

August 5, 2012 By

Have you ever had a day where you were busy from morning to evening, and at the end, had absolutely nothing to show for it?  Every day, maybe?

One of the most frustrating aspects of motherhood for me is the way my work is constant but often unnoticeable.  On a typical day, my husband comes home from work and asks me what I did all day, and I’m not sure what to tell him.  I kept the dirt and grime of the house at bay?  I made this dinner? I fed and diapered and played with and comforted and read to and disciplined and cleaned up after our daughter?  I don’t know how such a full-time job can sound so unproductive, or how I can have nothing tangible to show for it.  In fact, if I didn’t tell him what I did, he would find little evidence of it.

But if I stopped doing it all?  Everyone would notice.

That’s frustrating.

Before our daughter was born last fall, I worked full-time as a nurse.  Every day I gave reports of my work to doctors, patients’ family members, and my coworkers.  My patients and their families said that my work made a difference in their lives, and they frequently thanked me for it.  When I did a good job, my boss commended me.   What I did was noticed as much as what I didn’t do.

Motherhood isn’t like that.  My daughter doesn’t say, “Hey Mom, thanks so much for cleaning up the Cheerios I threw up all over myself.”  But if I didn’t clean them up, she would definitely let me know her displeasure.

If you’re like me, and you feel the frustration of unseen effort, take heart, my friend.  There is One who sees it all:  the folded laundry, the kissed boo-boos, and the dishes washed for the thousandth time.  He is the One who records our tears on His scroll (Psalm 56:8), the One who counts the sparrows that fall (Matthew 10:29), and the One who knows each hair on our head (Luke 12:7).  He knows each faithful act, and He values each one.

Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”  What a comfort that is when we feel that our work is useless or unseen!

If today you wish someone would just notice, rest in the knowledge that He does.

Blessings,

Aubrie

 

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14 Comments | Filed Under: Following God, Homemaking, Hope, Parenting
About Aubrie Drayer

Aubrie is a wife, mom, and most importantly, a follower of Christ. Her aim is to live her life as a fragrant offering to the God who has rescued her from darkness.

Her favorite ways to spend her free time include snuggling with her sweet baby girl, going on dates with her husband, volunteering for a pro-life ministry, reading, drinking coffee, thrift store shopping, and concocting recipes in her sunny kitchen.

She is blessed beyond measure.

  • http://thequeenmommy.com/litfuse-book-tour-inescapable/ Debbie T

    great post. i can so relate to this post – it is absolutely how I feel most days! i used to be able to account for my time, and now I feel lost in a landslide of diapers and missing socks and booboos and missing papers and endless chores with little thanks. thanks for reminding me who I am supposed to serve.

    • Aubrie

      We all need to be reminded, don’t we? Thanks for stopping, Debbie!

  • Debra

    Thank you for that VERY important reminder. It helped me. :D

    • Aubrie

      I’m so glad! God bless you.

  • Creative Christian Mama

    I know that there are many days that I’m busy all day- with absolutely no tangible evidence! I do have to tell my husband what I’ve done, or it appears that I sat around doing nothing. :-) It really is encouraging to be reminded that all of these “unnoticed” things we do actually *are* noticed by the most important Person of all. Thanks so much for encouraging us weary mamas.

    • Aubrie

      You’re welcome, and thank you for your encouragement to me. God bless you as you keep up this important work!

  • Naamah

    I have been struggling with this so much lately. Usually I am a school teacher but for the rest of this year I am mum to a two year old and a new baby as well as a stay at home mum/wife. The two worlds are a LOT more different than I expected. Much like your description in fact. I have taken heart from this post – it was exactly what I needed and what I prayed for this morning.

    • Aubrie

      It’s such a hard transition! The world doesn’t value the work of a stay-at-home mom very much, but I believe that God does. I pray God will continue to encourage you as you do this important work!

  • Hislovenduresforever

    You expressed how I feel all too often. I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who gets discouraged that my work goes unnoticed. I have wondered what my husband would think if I let things slide (ie housework) for a week. Thanks for the reminder that God sees every little thing that I do.

    • Aubrie

      You’re definitely not alone. I pray that you will continue to be encouraged that your work nurturing, training, and discipling your children is very precious in God’s eyes!

  • Coral

    Check out “The Invisible Woman – When Only God Sees” by Nicole Johnson – short read that specifically addresses this. Very encouraging. Thanks for your post and reminder!

    • Aubrie

      Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll be sure to check it out.

  • http://www.joyfilleddays.com/ Sarah Beals

    Great post! God sees…and rewards! :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/khiradyoung Khira Young

    How refreshing. I needed this reminder. It’s so hard to see through the piling laundry, dishes and diapers that our Heavenly Father is pleased with us. I struggle with feeling like a failure and lost while being a wife and new sahm of three little ones. I needed this encouragement. Thanks!