My Kitchen View

“Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
But abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.”
Proverbs 14:4

For my family, the kitchen tends to be the main hub of the home. As a mother to four, it is always bustling with activity - water bottles left waiting to be cleaned, dirty pots and pans that need a good scrubbing, counters needing to be wiped down, not to mention, cooking three meals a day and snacks. It’s a full time job keeping the family fed.

In a space already filled with so much mess, it often seems too troublesome to have my children “help”. It’s just too stressful having them around when I’m in the kitchen. Yet something I’ve realized along the way in motherhood is to invite my kids into the mess. I’ve learned to let go of Instagram snapshots of perfectly clean and organized spaces and realized that real joy and gladness in our home comes from allowing my children to participate in the cooking process.

So often, the trouble is that we see welcoming our kids into the process as a burden because it often means more work for us. However, when we change our attitude and view the work as something God desires for us, it shifts our perspective to what is most important.

Since mothering often revolves around what food or snack to eat, the kitchen is a great space for discipleship. Teach your children the art of scrambling an egg or making cookies. Teach an older child to make a good (strong) cup of coffee. Let them help you cut veggies for soup or scrub the dishes in the sink. Kids are much more capable than we realize. They want to help and they also crave quality time with you. There is no greater joy than to pass on a tradition or make a new one together. It can even be as easy as turning on your favorite song while cleaning up after dinner.

We have the privilege to show our kids what service looks like, and give them a place to learn and make messes.

“Abundant crops” look different in family life. These “crops” could include learning service to their family and others, life skills, independence, keeping a home and appreciating meals cooked in the kitchen. It is not a burden to show them, it is a teachable moment that turns into many blessings. It will not always be easy, but by practicing faithful service to our children you will find joy in seeing their excitement and delight, even when there is pancake batter on the counter or the eggs get dropped on the floor.

God chose us despite the messiness of our lives. He promises to give you all you need, day by day. Stay faithful to what God is asking of you as your child’s parent. Be encouraged to invite your children into the kitchen. Embrace the real-life messes together, and the precious moments you will remember. It may get messy but walking through life God’s way is always best.