Relevance

I had a crisis of relevance last month.  Probably everyone has those moments in their lives.  In those moments you wonder, Does what I do matter?

Here are some of the things I do:  I go grocery shopping and make meals--lots of those.  I do laundry and dishes.  I clean the house.  I make menus and manage our finances.  I walk kids to school and pick them up, and babysit for my brother once a week.  I buy birthday and Christmas presents and take children to the doctor. I serve in my church and support my husband in his service. Most of all, I try to persuade my children to become the people they need to become.  Some days it feels like I'm not making any progress in that area!

At that moment of crisis, I wondered if I was making any difference?  Does any of the work I do help anyone very much?  Am I doing what God wants me to do?

Fortunately God helped me feel a tiny bit more relevant.  I decided to read the Gospels this month to help me focus more on Christ's life.  I started reading in Matthew 1:

1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

 3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

And so on.  It's tempting to skip those verses--they don't seem important except to show Christ's lineage.  But as I read, it struck me: I am like them.  I am one of those unknown people who links the generations.  I am not an ancestor of Christ but I am the link between my descendants and my ancestors.  What happens to future generations if I don't do my job as that link?  My descendants are counting on me.

I am thankful for that insight.  The work I do as I take care of my marriage and my family does matter in the long run.  I am creating patterns for my children to follow.  I need to do my very best in raising my children so that they can learn how to be a link too.

Our first night of Advent