Every Day Matters- the Impact you have in the big and the small

Today Matters. I opened my Instagram app and coincidentally those were the first words I read on a plain background picture. So simple right? Yet, as I went about my morning I could not get the words out of my head. As a mom, I know all too well how easy it is to feel like I’m in a rut. Or feel like my days are insignificant. Lots of repetitive motions, prepping, teaching, talking, etc etc. Truthfully, you don’t even have to be a mom to have and know those feelings. We all have them.

But I’ll also say this: feelings can be faulty. They can convince us to feel bad for ourselves and they can keep us stuck when there is more for us to step into and lean into for the season we are in. One things I’m slowly learning as I raise our kids and do many of the same things day in and day out, is that each of my “todays” impact all of my “tomorrows”. Meaning that within each of my days is a short-term vision and a long-term vision. I may only feel that I’m seeing the short-term vision. “I just have to get him to sleep through the night.” “I just need to catch up on this laundry.” “One more meal made and I can close the kitchen for the day.” “One I finish this work project, I’ll have a little break.” But again those are just feelings. Short-term vision. Nothing wrong with it of itself- that is, unless that’s all we choose to live in.

I heard someone once say that when raising children, we also need to have a long-term vision. After all, we aren’t just raising children, we are raising future adults. But if all we focus on is the former, we can easily forget about the end goal. So, although I may not see the results of today right away, I will eventually. What I do today really does matter. Not just for tomorrow but also for ten years down the road. Well, maybe not the laundry load itself. But the habit it builds in me? Yes. Being a consistent mother and wife? Absolutely. Showing up with a good attitude even when it’s hard? Yes again. Finishing that project at work or just being a finisher in general? Necessary. If we flake out too early from everything, we don’t get to see the benefit of a job well done and move into what God has next for us each day.

Whatever today holds, in whatever season you are in, I want you to know that it matters. Your schooling matters. Your relationships and how you handle them matter. Your integrity with how you conduct business matters. Your mothering and tending to your home and children matters. It matters because it’s the impact you are having that goes beyond right now. It’s an impact that will have a ripple effect far beyond what we can see and envision.

But you want to know the real reason it matters? Because YOU matter- especially to the God who created you and placed in you all sorts of gifting. Some which you are actively using now and some still yet to be tapped into and discovered. It may not feel like your everyday “stuff” matters, but it does. It matters to God. And it’s not because He cares about your stuff. It’s because He cares about YOU! So much. You will never be more loved by God than you are right now… and at the same time He has a whole lot of exciting things ahead for you as you continue to be diligent in what He has given you TODAY. But we can’t skip to the next part just yet. First, we need to tend to our “today”.

Luke 16:10 says this:

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if
you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”

If today is a day of rest, it matters.
If today is a day to be productive, it matters.
If today is a day to reset, refresh, and refocus, it matters.
If today is a day to grieve, it matters.
If today is a day to toss out the to-do list and have fun, it matters.

What today holds, let’s be faithful to give it our best and remember that our impact and our decisions today, have a further reach than we realize. And don’t let that discourage or guilt you, let it encourage and free you to live fully in the season you are in. Whether that’s washing dishes or climbing mountains. Neither happen on its own. What I do today really does matter! And so do I! and so do you!

xo, Sarah