I find that inevitably, when I say I want to focus on one particular character quality, I am immediately faced with challenges in that area. I know you can relate.
So when I said I wanted to focus on peace, oh my. Mind you, I have two little boys. Peace is just not on the top of their priority lists. And I don't just mean noise level, because that is a given. I mean that many days, the general feeling of our home does not tend towards peace.
Holman's passionate nature means that often his default mode tends towards discontentment. I pray that ultimately this means he will never be satisfied with less than God's best for his life! In the mean time, it means that I have a somewhat high maintenance buddy on my hands, who I am responsible to love, to teach, and with whom to work on things like gratitude, joy, and kindness.
My big guy on Christmas morning.
And Sid, with his easy-going temperament, has his tough days of course. He is a toddler now (though not quite walking!). He's still cutting teeth, figuring out what he likes and doesn't like, and learning how to play with his awesome big bro. Some days he fusses more, needs to eat constantly, wants to be held, or seems to annoy his big brother when he gets a little pushy.
So when I said I wanted to focus on peace, oh my. Mind you, I have two little boys. Peace is just not on the top of their priority lists. And I don't just mean noise level, because that is a given. I mean that many days, the general feeling of our home does not tend towards peace.
Holman's passionate nature means that often his default mode tends towards discontentment. I pray that ultimately this means he will never be satisfied with less than God's best for his life! In the mean time, it means that I have a somewhat high maintenance buddy on my hands, who I am responsible to love, to teach, and with whom to work on things like gratitude, joy, and kindness.
My big guy on Christmas morning.
And Sid, with his easy-going temperament, has his tough days of course. He is a toddler now (though not quite walking!). He's still cutting teeth, figuring out what he likes and doesn't like, and learning how to play with his awesome big bro. Some days he fusses more, needs to eat constantly, wants to be held, or seems to annoy his big brother when he gets a little pushy.
My little guy chomping on some candy ;)
Some days I wake up feeling a little behind already. The kids are both awake, needing various diaper changes and emergency breakfasts (my big boys get beyond grumpy if they don't eat quickly!). The laundry reaches mountainous levels (just ask my very patient husband), the dishes pile up in my dishwasher-less kitchen, and the little tornadoes make messes as quickly as I can pick up the apartment. In these moments I feel anything but peaceful.
But then I remember something. I am the momma. I am the queen of this home, and more often than not, it is my attitude that is going to drive the tone of the home. God has endowed me with a life filled with blessings, in addition to a pretty large realm of related responsibility. He knows how crazy my life feels, because this is all a part of His glorious, wise plan for me! So He is not unaware of my struggles when His Word challenges me to "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15 NASB)
I belong to the Prince of Peace. I must remember this truth! During His life on earth, peace marked His every step. Peace in His Father's love, His purpose, and His love for His wayward sheep. I must allow His peace to invade every moment, from the joyous to the horrible, so that I can have a heart that is truly peaceful. This is my first memory verse for the year; may it become deeply ingrained in my heart, so that I might become a truly peaceful mother this year.
"... and be thankful." Tied to the fruit of peace has to be a deep gratitude for all He is and all He has done in my life. And do I ever have a lot to be grateful for. The other day it occurred to me that there are people in the world who might give up a limb for even the worst days of my life. This was both humbling and encouraging. My life is insanely good, and I am grateful. I just pray that I can become the kind of mother who can walk in peace on good days, horrible days, and all the days in between.
May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts today!
-Sarah
2 comments:
It says that Ryan posted this, but it was just that he was accidentally signed in on our Mac. :) He's not the momma ;)
Inspiring. Thanks for sharing and making me feel.more normal. Cheers to being a mom!
Post a Comment