I’ve been a parent for twelve years now, and in that time have made all kinds of mistakes. I’m sure I’ll make loads more before it’s all said and done. There are several lies about being a mom that I realize I’ve believed over the years that have contributed to those mistakes, some of which I still struggle with. I believe that exposing the lies of the Enemy is a powerful way to defeat him, so I thought I’d call him out on a few of them today.
[Read more…] about 5 Lies I Have Believed About Being A Mom
Parenting
It’s Okay To Be Mary In A World Full Of Martha’s
Housekeeping is not my forte.
It never has been.
I have friends who are household rock stars. They are the perfect embodiment of the Proverbs 31 woman. But I am not that woman.
Back when I was a single mom with just one child, I could keep up pretty good… most of the time.
Let’s face it, there wasn’t much to keep up with.
However, I still remember the time we went to my mom’s for the weekend and I forgot to take the trash out before we left. That wasn’t pleasant.
But now I am married and the mother of four. I could clean 24 hours a day and probably still not keep up. I tried for a while. And then I gave up.
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Truths to Remember When Walking Into the Unknown
My youngest is starting Kindergarten in a few weeks (by the time you are reading this, she will have started). Not only is she my youngest, but she won’t be 5 until November, she is a bit behind in her speech, she’s little, and she has no clue what to do when people are mean to her. Seriously, she just sits there and cries.
In a short few weeks, I will be putting her on the bus with her brother. She will hopefully run on the bus with excitement to be going to the same school with him. But I know all too well what can happen on the bus. We have witnessed it over the past couple years.
On one particularly chaotic day, I asked Charlie what the bus driver was doing when all the chaos was ensuing. Be ready to laugh here, my friends.
[Read more…] about Truths to Remember When Walking Into the UnknownCrocodile Tears & Jesus
Things had been going so well. But now I watched as genuine crocodile tears ran down his chubby little red face.
Tatum had been having a blast in the electric car his Uncle Michael had brought to our house. Driving the tiny vehicle appeared to be the highlight of his toddler life. I was impressed he could keep the pedal pushed down enough to make the car hum across the patio. Steering, however, proved to be a skill he hadn’t yet mastered. His giggles, though, fully compensated our efforts as we raced to keep the path cleared of porch furniture and planters ahead of him.
[Read more…] about Crocodile Tears & Jesus5 Bible Verses on Patience
5 Bible Verses on Patience was written by Candid Guest, Rachel Nelson
“Be Patient” is a phrase I probably use too often with my kids and not enough with myself. When you have young children it becomes increasingly obvious that there in fact ‘beams in your eye’ that need to be cast out, and I have learned that this is one of mine.
My children are absolutely wonderful. They are happy and helpful around the house, but like all children they also have moments of anger, rebellion, and downright messiness.
Somehow, I am supposed to raise them with loving kindness and meekness without letting myself become frustrated. It’s my job to encourage them to grow, gently prune away any of their imperfections, and guide them to become their best selves, (while at the same time also learning to improve myself!)
I must do this from a place of great patience, because they will inevitably make many mistakes.
Kind of like how God does the same for me.
[Read more…] about 5 Bible Verses on PatienceGrace & Truth For Life Changes
So… my oldest son graduates from high school this month.
To be completely candid, I’m a mess.
They finally found something that is helping my migraines, (which is fantastic! – Yay, God!) However, we’ve realized that my head has been in so much pain over the past few years, I was completely numb to everything else.
So here I am, feeling all the feelings I haven’t been, attending scholarship ceremonies, the final state meet of… not just the year, but their lives. And I’m an emotional wreck.
[Read more…] about Grace & Truth For Life ChangesPeace Be Still: One Mom’s Struggle to Overcome Yelling
Peace Be Still is a Guest Post written by Rachel Nelson
I didn’t know I was a yeller until I had kids.
When my first born transitioned from babyhood to toddler-hood, I learned that I could get angry, irritated, and stressed a lot quicker than I’d like to admit.
And although I am filled with guilt every time I have yelled or otherwise expressed anger to my kids, I haven’t been able to completely break the habit.
[Read more…] about Peace Be Still: One Mom’s Struggle to Overcome YellingBecoming Women of Grace
I finally had a moment to myself.
I was all alone, mindlessly browsing the aisles of a local department store. It was not a high-end store, but I didn’t care in that moment. After the week I had, I’m a mom of four here, I was in heaven.
A unicorn toy sitting on a shelf, out of place, caught my eye. I knew my five-year-old foster daughter would love it. I grabbed it, tossed it in the cart and continued enjoying the peace and quiet. As I weaved in and out of the aisles, my mind went back to her behavior that day and the days before. Her behavior, as a result from trauma, was the very reason I needed this break in a local Walmart of all places. So I stayed on that thought and on what had transpired as a result of her actions. I found myself, inadvertently, taking the unicorn toy out of my cart and placing it back on the shelf. Even though I knew she would love it, in my mind, she did not deserve it.
[Read more…] about Becoming Women of Grace15+ Ways Our Gracious God Safeguards Our Hearts
I sat in church last Sunday as a preacher brought us a message. He touched very briefly on James 1:5, almost a throwaway line and not the main idea, but it struck me particularly hard that day.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 1:5
As a mom, I tended to be a bit of a lecturer. I wanted my kids to understand what’s happening and come away with clear knowledge of what they’ve done wrong and how to fix it. But I’ve also been on the receiving end when someone continues to lecture even after I’ve come to them to apologize. It’s not fun, it doesn’t feel like they’ve forgiven me. It feels like they’re piling on.
[Read more…] about 15+ Ways Our Gracious God Safeguards Our HeartsDo You Need to Take a Moment & Just Breathe?
Stop.
Just stop where you are a take a deep breath.
In through your nose and out through your mouth.
Seriously.
When was the last time you took a moment to just breathe?
[Read more…] about Do You Need to Take a Moment & Just Breathe?