In the Middle of Ministry

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

-Phillipians 3:14

In the midst of winter in the month we celebrate love during the season of lent (the time for transformation through repentance), I turned thirty-two. And at this age heading towards the middle of my life expectancy, I weather the season of motherhood dubbed "in the thick of it." Two months ago during advent, the season of great anticipation, we welcomed our fourth child; thus graduating to the level of "seasoned parents" with a multiplied number of off-spring aged six and under.  Also, I'mbin the middle of my postpartum time with the slow stablization of my body, mind and emotions reborn in the fourth trimester. Furthermore, now past the stage of newlyweds and not quite in the wise old marriaged folk stage, my husband and I still attmept to adjust and agree with one another in this chaotic era of raising young children.  So, in the middle of my life as a wife and mother, I pause to contemplate how to stay steady in the in between times.

     Thus at my age of 32, I ponder how Jesus Christ felt in the middle of his ministry. Like Christ, who already established his core following (twelve apostles) even appointing their leader in that rock guy, I too found my family and vocation as a wife and mother.

Jesus at thirty-two, proclaimed his ministry's purpose in healing and teaching  the masses. Likewise, daily I teach, fed, clothe, and bath my four children while provding a neat-ish home, clean clothes and predictable rountine.  Jesus at thirty-two stayed faithful to the mission of salvation through his suffering at age thirty-three. I too, as wife and mother must steady my course of stewarding a household with steady love to finish  my God-given mission of raising Christ disciplines full of grace and truth.

So at thirty-two, I seek to stabilize myself in "the thick of it" with the thirty-two mediation:

30 seconds of deep breathing with the prayer "Jesus I love you, have mercy on me a sinner"

2 acknowledgements of gratitude for someone and or something visible or tangible in the moment such as:

"I am preparing clothes for my family to wear so I am grateful for laundry" and "I am grateful for  my baby's healthy growing lungs as she wails."

This meditative grounding process of thirty-two full of prayer and gratitude allows me to receive by being in the doing- thus staying faithful in the middle of the mission like my Lord Jesus Christ at age thirty-two.