Mommy Ecclesiastes

There was a time in my life when my children were ages 7,7 ,2, 1 & 1.  I vividly remember sitting at my kitchen table studying the book of Ecclesiastes during nap time.  It had been one of those days, when I just felt that all of my efforts to “keep up”, were falling flat.  I wrote this paraphrase for myself, and recently uncovered it while flipping through old journals.

If you are a mom with littles, I’m sure you will relate.  And just so you know, Mama, it doesn’t last long. As I type these words my kids are 24, 24, 19, 18 & 18.  The house is clean and quiet. But I wouldn’t trade those messy years for anything in the world!

Ecclesiastes 2 (paraphrased):

1 I said to my little ones, “Come now, I will test you with fun to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does silliness accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering my children with treats, and stimulating their minds with great books —my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for mommies to do under the roof during the few days of their lives.

4 I undertook great projects: I built a playroom for my children, and installed a sandbox in the backyard. 5 I purchased all kinds of books and toys and dolls and action figures. 6 I bought bins and boxes in which to organize said toys. 7 I assigned chores to my children and I used washers, dryers and all manner of appliances. 8 I amassed arts and crafts supplies for my children, and a collection of tapes and CD’s. I acquired babysitters and a mother’s helper as well—the delights of a mom’s heart. 9 I became a mommy to two sets of multiples -greater by far than anyone in my neighborhood before me. In all this my wits stayed with me.

10  At nap time, I cleaned everything I laid my eyes on; I refused my hands no task.

I used sprays and sponges, rags and cleaning solutions.  I provided for myself rubber gloves, and scrub brushes and set about my work vigorously.

I set the children in their beds and worked undisturbed for an hour. I collected dust and cobwebs from all regions of the house, and all that my eyes beheld I did not refuse to clean. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil.

11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was vanity, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the roof.

12 Then I turned my thoughts to consider diligence, and also laziness and sloth. What more can a mommy do than what has already been done? 13 I saw that diligence is better than neglect, just as light is better than darkness.

14 The clean house has sparkling floors,  while the filthy tread upon dirtiness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both. 15 Then I said to myself, “The fate of the lazy mom will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being conscientious?” I said to myself,  “This too is vanity.” 16 For the clean house, as the dirty one will not be long remembered; the moment has already come when both have been forgotten. How the children of a mommy will destroy her work in a moment!

17 So I hated life, because the work that I had done under the roof was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the roof. For sleeping children and a clean house are futilities, a  striving after the wind. 19 For who knows whether they will spill Cheerios or juice? Yes, they will destroy all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the roof. This too is meaningless. 20 So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the roof. 21 For a mommy may labor with diligence, organization and skill, and then she must leave all she has done to those who unravel toilet paper rolls, and rub diaper cream into the carpet. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.22 What does a mom get for all the toil and anxious striving with which she labors under the sun? 23 All her days her work is fruitless; her children will get into her makeup bag and find the lipstick, they will revel in rubbing sweet potatoes into the hair of their siblings.  They will find pleasure in tracking mud into the house, and whatever trash can is not tightly sealed, they will not withhold their hands from it; for their hearts are pleased to make messes and this is the reward of their existence under the roof. This too is meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 (paraphrased)

18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a mommy to eat, to drink and to find happiness in her activities under the roof during the few days of life God has given her—for this is her lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives a woman toddlers and babies, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept her lot and rejoice in her toil—this is a gift of God. 20 She will seldom reflect on the days of her life, because God keeps her occupied with gladness of heart.

Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 (paraphrased)

7 Go then, eat your chocolate in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. 8 Let your house be well “lived in” all the time, and let not joy be lacking in your heart .9 Enjoy life with the children whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the roof; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the roof.