Never underestimate the toe!

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts;

and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

1 Cor. 12:12

I broke the middle toe on my left foot tonight. Four weeks ago, I broke my pinkie toe. Same foot. When little injuries like this happen, my husband usually takes care of them. Unfortunately, he's not with me this week, so I headed off to the E.R.

In the examining room while I was waiting on the doctor, I couldn't help but wonder why another broken toe? What could I possibly learn from this? Well, other than it's probably a good idea to wear shoes, closed toed shoes!

Just then, the above verse flashed into my head. So often, when I hear a message preached about the body and its many parts, the toe gets treated so lightly. Some people are a heart, others a brain, and some are called to be a toe. I always wonder, "If I'm only a toe, is that okay?" OR "I want to be a heart." Yep. I have always struggled with this verse and my purpose in God's plan. Honestly, I don't think being a toe is so cool.

Along those lines, I've struggled lately with what appears to be God's call on my life. I know I'm made to write. I love writing. Yet, writing often gets relegated to the back burner. It seems being a mom is my current calling. I fight it sometimes. "Kids," I say self-righteously, "God designed me to write. I need some peace and quiet.... PLEASE." No. It never works.

I realize that I have a bad attitude about the role of parenting. I don't appreciate its value like I should. Yet, who else will teach my kids about Jesus--not just the stories, but the everyday application? Who will help them understand compassion? forgiveness? generosity? It's not the school's job to do that. It's not the church's role. It's the parent's job and if parents don't do it, no one else will.

God showed me tonight that parenting is a lot like a toe. We just don't appreciate it -- as I didn't appreciate my toes. God got my attention tonight. I am thankful I'm a toe... and a mom.