You know those days when everything feels like a broken lawnmower? I recently attended a church service where Pastor Donnie Edwards shared a story that really made me reflect on my own attitude as it relates to the tasks I do every single day. It was too good not to share with my fellow moms who might be struggling with their own metaphorical lawnmowers.
The Lawnmower
Pastor Donnie shared a story about a preacher dealing with overgrown church grass because no one would help maintain it, despite several people volunteering to mow the grass. (Sound familiar, moms? Like when everyone sees the overflowing laundry basket but mysteriously develops temporary blindness?) The poor preacher ended up wrestling with a temperamental push mower that died every six inches. After blessing every deacon in the church (not the good kind of blessing 😉), he eventually kicked the mower in frustration – probably breaking his toe in the process.
Here’s the kicker – right in that moment of pain and frustration, he had this revelation: “Am I mowing the grass for the congregation, or am I mowing the grass for God?”
Ouch. That hit home. So often I find myself working on things from the perspective of how it will impact me, and that impacts my attitude (not always in a positive way). But when I realize everything I do is being done for God (1 Corinthians 10:31), then my attitude should always be one of rejoicing and gratitude, no matter what I am doing.
Real Talk: When Being “Nice” Isn’t So Nice
You know Ephesians 4:32? “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…” Pastor Donnie had us all laughing (and maybe squirming a bit) when he asked if anyone actually lives up to this verse. He mentioned how for many of us the word “STRUGGLE” probably needs to be stamped across that Bible verse in bold red letters. Because let’s be honest – how many of us really nail this every day?
How many times have we:
- Made dinner while internally grumbling about ungrateful family members
- Volunteered to do something while resenting every minute
- Helped with homework while counting down the seconds until bedtime
Pastor Donnie spoke about kindness. And honestly – It was refreshing to hear someone admit how hard it can be for all of us. Because let’s face it – being kind when your child is having their third meltdown of the day or when your teenager just rolled their eyes for the millionth time? That’s Olympic-level spiritual gymnastics.
The “Forgive and Forget” Myth
Here’s something that really stood out to me. You know how we’re always told to “forgive and forget”? Well, apparently that’s not quite right. The pastor shared something revolutionary: You can forgive without forgetting, and that’s okay. Sometimes, reconciliation isn’t possible this side of heaven, but forgiveness is always an option.
For us moms, this might mean:
- Forgiving the in-law who constantly criticizes your parenting choices (while still setting healthy boundaries)
- Choosing to forgive the mom-friend who shared your private struggles with others at school pickup
- Extending grace to your spouse for those early parenting disagreements, even if you still remember them
- Finding forgiveness for the parent who let you down, while protecting your own children from the same hurt
- Learning to forgive the mom at church who excluded your kid from the birthday party (without pretending it didn’t sting)
We should show kindness to others the way it is described in Ephesians 4:32: Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. I admit … there are days when that’s a real struggle bus for me to do.
Marriage: Speaking Different Languages
Love, Marriage, and Lawnmowers: Finding Grace in the Everyday Chaos
You know those days when everything feels like a broken lawnmower? I recently attended a church service where Pastor Donnie Edwards shared a story that had me nodding (and laughing) the whole time. It was too good not to share with my fellow moms who might be struggling with their own metaphorical lawnmowers.
The Lawnmower That Changed Everything
Picture this: A preacher dealing with overgrown church grass because no one would help maintain it. (Sound familiar, moms? Like when everyone sees the overflowing laundry basket but mysteriously develops temporary blindness?) The poor guy ends up wrestling with a temperamental push mower that dies every six inches. After blessing every deacon in the church (not the good kind of blessing 😉), he eventually kicks the mower in frustration – probably breaking his toe in the process.
Here’s the kicker – right in that moment of pain and frustration, he has this revelation: “Am I doing this for them, or am I doing this for a higher purpose?”
Ouch. That hit home.
Real Talk: When Being “Nice” Isn’t So Nice
You know Ephesians 4:32? “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…” Pastor Donnie had us all laughing (and maybe squirming a bit) when he asked if anyone actually lives up to this verse. I swear you could almost see the word “STRUGGLE” stamped across that Bible verse in bold red letters. Because let’s be honest – how many of us really nail this every day?
How many times have we:
- Made dinner while internally grumbling about ungrateful family members
- Volunteered for the PTA while resenting every minute
- Helped with homework while counting down the seconds until bedtime
Pastor Donnie spoke about kindness, and honestly? It was refreshing to hear someone admit how hard it can be. Because let’s face it – being kind when your toddler is having their third meltdown of the day or when your teenager just rolled their eyes for the millionth time? That’s Olympic-level spiritual gymnastics.
The “Forgive and Forget” Myth
Here’s something that really stood out to me. You know how we’re always told to “forgive and forget”? Well, apparently that’s not quite right. The pastor shared something revolutionary: You can forgive without forgetting, and that’s okay. Sometimes, reconciliation isn’t possible this side of heaven, but forgiveness is always an option.
For us moms, this might mean:
- Forgiving the in-law who constantly criticizes your parenting choices (while still setting healthy boundaries)
- Choosing to forgive the mom-friend who shared your private struggles with others at school pickup
- Extending grace to your spouse for those early parenting disagreements, even if you still remember them
- Finding forgiveness for the parent who let you down, while protecting your own children from the same hurt
- Learning to forgive the mom at church who excluded your kid from the birthday party (without pretending it didn’t sting)
Marriage After Kids: Learning to Speak Love Fluently
Let’s get real about love languages for a minute. Pastor Donnie shared something that hit home – we often marry someone who speaks a completely different love language than we do. (Maybe that’s why your hubby keeps buying you gifts when all you really want is help with the dishes? 😉)
Time for Some Heart-Checking Questions:
- When was the last time you told your spouse why you love them? Not just “I love you,” but the specific reasons?
- What makes you feel most loved? Now ask yourself – have you actually told your spouse this?
- Do you know what makes your spouse feel valued, or are you just assuming?
Think about trying these intentional steps:
- Monday: Notice one specific thing your spouse does that you appreciate
- Tuesday: Express that appreciation in their love language, not yours
- Wednesday: Ask them what made them feel most loved this week
- Thursday: Share what makes you feel loved (hint: be specific!)
- Friday: Try speaking their love language, even if it feels awkward
Loving someone in their love language isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about those small, daily choices:
- Touching base during a busy day (even if you’re not a “words” person)
- Helping with the kids’ bedtime routine (when you’d rather crash on the couch)
- Sitting close during TV time (even if physical touch isn’t your thing)
- Noticing and thanking them for the little things
What This Means for Us Moms
You know what I love most about Pastor Donnie’s message? It reminds us that even when we’re knee-deep in laundry, dishes, and soccer schedules, we’re actually doing sacred work. Every thing we do for our children, every late-night conversation with our spouse when we’re exhausted, every deep breath we take before responding to a sassy pre-teen – it all matters. Sometimes the most spiritual moments happen right there in the midst of our messy, beautiful everyday lives.
- Grace in the Small Things
Whether it’s dealing with a broken lawnmower or a broken dishwasher, our attitude matters more than the task itself. - Kindness as a Choice
We can choose kindness even when we’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or dealing with difficult people (including our own lovely family members). - Real Forgiveness
When we truly forgive, we can’t keep bringing up past hurts like bookmarks in our relationships. Just as we’re forgiven new each day, we need to extend that same fresh start to others – no replays, no reruns of old wounds. - Growing Love
We’re all growing and learning how to love Biblically. Give yourself grace in the process.
Remember, mama, none of us are perfect at this love thing. We’re all just doing our best with our temperamental lawnmowers, trying to grow something beautiful in the process.
What resonated most with you from this message? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
This blog post was inspired by Pastor Donnie Edwards’ sermon at Legacy Baptist Church. All personal reflections and applications to motherhood are my own and may not represent the views of the pastor or Legacy Baptist Church. To watch the full sermon, which is full of a lot of other great biblical application of what love is, click on the YouTube video below.
