Do you smell something?
What's that smell?
Oh yea, it's the spit up on my shirt...the shirt that I was planning on changing but got sidetracked in doing so because my son came running around the corner at lightening speed yelling out "POO AGAIN!"
And while standing, cooking dinner tonight, baby asleep on me in the carrier, I begin to wonder what's that awful smell! Does the meal I'm preparing smell that bad?! Oh wait, it's my nasty shirt, which is impossible now to change and kinda pointless because my day is closer to the end (meaning bedtime for the kiddos) than it was when said spit up actually occurred.
And honestly I can't even remember if I brushed my teeth this morning because every time it crossed my mind, my breath tasted of coffee! Sooo, did I brush my teeth and drink more coffee or did I forget to brush them and this was my "first cup of coffee" breath smell going on? But my breath smells like coffee, it could be worse right?!
----------------------------------------------------
I've found the last few days to be a challenge in helping my two oldest littles to love one another well and I keep coming back to this same prayer in my day,
Lord, I need you.
Give me wisdom in this situation.
Forgive me for handling it in appropriately.
Help me to lead these little ones to You.
And then it happens again, another battle of the wills. And again, I pray that prayer.
So why do I say all this?
Because I'm on a path of learning in this motherhood journey. And I process better when I write. I'm finding that even in the midst of many chaotic days, there are lessons to learn, prayers to be prayed and refinement to happen in my life.
Today, I was encouraged after a dear friend came over to hang out with her child and then sent me a text later on after leaving that said, "she was encouraged as a mom and wife when she hangs out with me".
I admit, I laughed out loud when I read her message because I instantly thought, were we in the same house hanging out together? I mean, all I saw was chaos, tantrums, fussiness and disobedience!
But then I reflected further about her encouraging message and thought again, that maybe, just maybe the Lord is answering prayers I plead for every day...
Prayers that the Holy Spirit would fill me up to overflowing,
Prayers that I would submit to His leadership in my life,
Prayers that I would have wisdom in leading my children to love the Savior of the world.
It also challenged me to be one who continues to encourage others (whether on the path of motherhood like I am at present or whatever their life's circumstances hold) because we all need to be encouraged. We need to have people around us who say, good job friend! One of the most destructive and unhelpful things I've experienced since becoming a mom is the person who perceives to know it all, have an answer for everything or know the BEST way to do (fill in the blank here). That's destructive because it's not encouraging. It's not helpful. But a simple word in a text from my friend, that was helpful (and also the fact that she brought me a grande latte when she came to hang out, haha!)
So I'm stopping to reflect....
I'm choosing gratefulness over the frustration that comes in my days.
I'm pressing into the Lord and leaning on His strength, rather than on my own feeble abilities.
I'm focusing on how what I am doing throughout my day with my kiddos is much more important than the mountain of laundry calling my name on the couch.
I'm smiling because after the last child was put in bed tonight, I was filling up my water bottle and noticed a tiny footprint on my kitchen floor (that I have no intention of mopping tonight...even though it desperately needs it) and it reminded me that these three kiddos are a blessing from the Lord.
I'm thinking about and asking myself how I can better encourage those around me.
I'm repenting of the many times I've been the "know it all" as I mentioned above and not loved well.
I'm hoping for continued growth and refinement during this phase of life.
So, how can you love and encourage someone today? Don't let the moment pass. In the practical ways, like the text message that greatly encouraged me today. Too often I will think of doing something and just don't. I make excuses, the biggest being "I'm a busy mom of three little tots (which is true) but this doesn't make me incapable of reaching out to those around me.
So I'm challenging myself to love others better, and asking for the Lord to be at work in my life in this area.
What about you, who can you come alongside today and encourage?
Oh yea, it's the spit up on my shirt...the shirt that I was planning on changing but got sidetracked in doing so because my son came running around the corner at lightening speed yelling out "POO AGAIN!"
And while standing, cooking dinner tonight, baby asleep on me in the carrier, I begin to wonder what's that awful smell! Does the meal I'm preparing smell that bad?! Oh wait, it's my nasty shirt, which is impossible now to change and kinda pointless because my day is closer to the end (meaning bedtime for the kiddos) than it was when said spit up actually occurred.
And honestly I can't even remember if I brushed my teeth this morning because every time it crossed my mind, my breath tasted of coffee! Sooo, did I brush my teeth and drink more coffee or did I forget to brush them and this was my "first cup of coffee" breath smell going on? But my breath smells like coffee, it could be worse right?!
----------------------------------------------------
I've found the last few days to be a challenge in helping my two oldest littles to love one another well and I keep coming back to this same prayer in my day,
Lord, I need you.
Give me wisdom in this situation.
Forgive me for handling it in appropriately.
Help me to lead these little ones to You.
And then it happens again, another battle of the wills. And again, I pray that prayer.
So why do I say all this?
Because I'm on a path of learning in this motherhood journey. And I process better when I write. I'm finding that even in the midst of many chaotic days, there are lessons to learn, prayers to be prayed and refinement to happen in my life.
Today, I was encouraged after a dear friend came over to hang out with her child and then sent me a text later on after leaving that said, "she was encouraged as a mom and wife when she hangs out with me".
I admit, I laughed out loud when I read her message because I instantly thought, were we in the same house hanging out together? I mean, all I saw was chaos, tantrums, fussiness and disobedience!
But then I reflected further about her encouraging message and thought again, that maybe, just maybe the Lord is answering prayers I plead for every day...
Prayers that the Holy Spirit would fill me up to overflowing,
Prayers that I would submit to His leadership in my life,
Prayers that I would have wisdom in leading my children to love the Savior of the world.
It also challenged me to be one who continues to encourage others (whether on the path of motherhood like I am at present or whatever their life's circumstances hold) because we all need to be encouraged. We need to have people around us who say, good job friend! One of the most destructive and unhelpful things I've experienced since becoming a mom is the person who perceives to know it all, have an answer for everything or know the BEST way to do (fill in the blank here). That's destructive because it's not encouraging. It's not helpful. But a simple word in a text from my friend, that was helpful (and also the fact that she brought me a grande latte when she came to hang out, haha!)
So I'm stopping to reflect....
I'm choosing gratefulness over the frustration that comes in my days.
I'm pressing into the Lord and leaning on His strength, rather than on my own feeble abilities.
I'm focusing on how what I am doing throughout my day with my kiddos is much more important than the mountain of laundry calling my name on the couch.
I'm smiling because after the last child was put in bed tonight, I was filling up my water bottle and noticed a tiny footprint on my kitchen floor (that I have no intention of mopping tonight...even though it desperately needs it) and it reminded me that these three kiddos are a blessing from the Lord.
I'm thinking about and asking myself how I can better encourage those around me.
I'm repenting of the many times I've been the "know it all" as I mentioned above and not loved well.
I'm hoping for continued growth and refinement during this phase of life.
So, how can you love and encourage someone today? Don't let the moment pass. In the practical ways, like the text message that greatly encouraged me today. Too often I will think of doing something and just don't. I make excuses, the biggest being "I'm a busy mom of three little tots (which is true) but this doesn't make me incapable of reaching out to those around me.
So I'm challenging myself to love others better, and asking for the Lord to be at work in my life in this area.
What about you, who can you come alongside today and encourage?
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