Faithful Friday 13

The Work That Is Never Done

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope your week has held more mercies than messes, but if not, grab that cup of coffee (or a glass of wine if it’s evening) and settle in for our weekly chat.

Welcome to OCTOBER! My heart literally does a little jump when I realize we’ve entered my favorite part of the year. Cooler weather, fun holidays, cozy food, and more time with family and friends… I truly ache for these months when they’re gone.

Lately, though, I’ve been thinking a lot about my attitude toward all the work I do around the house. You know the feeling: it’s 8 PM, the kids are finally asleep, and you look around only to find a fresh mess in the room you just picked up three hours ago. In those moments, it’s so easy for my soul to slip into a posture of frustration, irritation, and straight-up defeat.

And as we head into this bustling, beautiful season I love so much, I know our schedules are only going to get fuller. I don’t want to drag these negative feelings with me. I want to trade them in for something better. I want to find a way to shift my perspective and uncover a sense of purpose, even joy, in the work that never seems to stay done.

And that’s what this week’s Faithful Friday is all about. Let’s dig in!

Make Me A Mop by Cody Johnson

Make me a mop to clean up the messes

That I’ve made in my life

Lord, make me a spoon, smooth on the edges

When my words wanna reach for a knife

Make me a shovel, make me whatever

A handle on a cup you glue back together

If breakin’ a man just makes him better

Then do what you gotta do

Make me the nail, you hold the hammer

Drive me straight and drive me true

If you’ve heard this song, you know it’s not a worship track. It’s a country song probably never written with a mom in mind, but man, it strikes true.

Sometimes, as moms, it can feel like our work is never-ending. We can grumble through the last chores, knowing we’ll just start all over tomorrow.

But what if we approached our work with a heart like the one in this song? What if we woke up each morning asking God to make us a useful tool in His hands? Because whether we’re cleaning up a board game strewn across the floor, folding another batch of towels, or bathing dirty feet that have been running in the backyard… we are serving God in what we do.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, and especially to those who are of the household of faith”

Galatians 6:9-10

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul reminds us we have the Holy Spirit to help us live the lives we’re called to. It’s the Spirit who empowers us to become the humble, useful tools (the “mops”) that serve and grow God’s kingdom.

I’ve always seen doing good in this verse as something grand: a mission trip, a big donation, a major volunteer role. But what if the good is the small, holy work of re-picking up the same toys? Or wiping down the crumb-and-marker-covered countertops for the third time today? Or making a nourishing meal, that someone at your table may grumble over?

Galatians 6:10 calls these moments our opportunity to “do good to everyone, and especially to those of the household of faith.” Our first and most important ministry is to the tiny, messy, beautiful household of faith right under our own roof. This is the small but mighty work of motherhood: the daily acts of service that build a foundation of love and stability.

This brings to mind another verse, one I have framed on my desk: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23). The artwork painted above the verse isn’t a majestic landscape; it’s a watercolor painting of a load of laundry. I put it there to remind me that the work I do in my home is not done in vain, but for the glory of God. It’s a small but mighty act of worship.

Not surprisingly, this command was also written by Paul, pointing another early church toward a new way of living, a way that sanctifies the matters of home life. These seemingly small tasks are where our faith gets practical, where we work for an audience of One.

I used to pray for a ‘servant’s heart,’ envisioning impressive, recognized tasks. After Jones’s transplant, I even imagined God would call me to speak or write about what we’d been through. I never imagined He’d answer that prayer by calling me to serve by picking the same monster trucks up off the floor each morning. I have the desire to do really big things for God, but I forget that my children are my most important mission field.

This truth struck me hard this week, specifically at bedtime. If you’ve been around here a while, you know Jones has always struggled with sleep. We’ve made huge strides, but some nights are just hard. I used to be softer with him when he was little and scared. As he’s gotten older, it’s been easier for me to get frustrated when his mind won’t turn off and the routine drags on.

This past week, he had several difficult nights. One night, he was anxious about school; another, he was wired after soccer. I got frustrated. I huffed and puffed as he tossed restlessly, and finally, in a not-so-kind voice, I told him, “IT IS TIME TO SLEEP!” The guilt washed over me instantly.

But as I’ve been chewing on what it means to “do good”... especially to those of “the household of faith,” I realized I needed a heart shift. My frustration was seeing his need as more work for me. But this verse reframes it: lying with my restless son shouldn’t be a chore… it should be my most immediate opportunity to serve God by making a member of my own “household of faith” feel safe, seen, and loved.

The “Thank You for Serving” Reframe

Okay, full disclosure: this isn’t something I’ve perfected. It’s a new challenge I want to start in our home, and I’d love for you to join me.

I’m going to try a tiny shift in my words. My goal is to stop just saying, “Thanks for cleaning up,” and instead, try to say things like:

“Thank you for serving our family by putting the shoes away.”

“That was so helpful. You really served your brother by helping him look for his lovey this morning.”

“I saw you put your plate in the dishwasher. Thank you for serving our home.”

Why I’m hoping this small change will make a difference:

It Reframes the “Why”: I want to move the motivation from I did this because Mom told me to to I am a valuable part of our family team. I want to connect their actions to the higher purpose of serving God through serving others.

It Plants a Spiritual Seed: I’m not planning a big sermon. Those seem to go in one ear and out the other. I just want to start attaching the biblical language of “service” to their everyday actions, praying that over time, they’ll see that helping at home is a practical way to live out their faith.

This is my experiment for the coming weeks. Let’s see if this small phrase can help our families see the holy work in serving each other.

Lord,

Make us useful tools in Your hands, right where You have placed us.

Remind us that in serving others, we are ultimately serving You.

Thank you for Paul’s words, which guide us as we learn to grow Your kingdom within our own four walls—our most important ministry.

Thank you, too, for Jesus, our perfect example of how to serve those around us.

When we start to grumble about the work that is never done, prick our hearts. Turn our bad attitudes into postures of gratitude.

Amen.

Until next week, friends, Blair

Because Motherhood is hard. But you? You’re held.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

{Mathew 5:7}