Family Alive

After a long day of mothering, I was ready to get out this evening. Lousy sleep last night with a fussy, sick Josiah. My sweet Analise woke up whining, and it took all the grace I had to start the day in a good mood. Brian encouraged me in my handling of her first meltdown, but my patience wore thin as the day got longer. Josiah made lots of messes, Analise fussed about little things, and I was worn out from a restless night. I spent most of the day cleaning up the kitchen, cooking some treats, cleaning up the kitchen, cooking some more and cleaning up again.

But I had an evening with other moms to look forward to as my Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group was having a group baby shower for all the new moms. I had offered to make a bunch of food with my Tastefully Simple products. They’re all fairly easy things to make, but when it’s 7 different things in the midst of a busy day with little ones underfoot making messes and needing their own food, it’s not so easy! Poor Brian got the short end of things as I had no time or imagination to get food ready for him and the kids. He put together a picnic of fish sticks, cantaloupe and a breakfast burrito for himself in the living room, with Finding Nemo as the entertainment. He’s a champ! (He even gave Josiah a bath and almost had Analise in bed by the time I get home. Thank you, sweetheart!)

What a wonderful evening, though. I entered the party not impressed with my mothering today. I was not who God wanted me to be as I faced all the little challenges of the day. And inside, I looked at the moms around me and imagined the godly day of mothering they’d walked out, graciously correcting their children, speaking all their words in love, full of patience and grace. But we’re all human, struggling to balance the needs of our children, husbands, ourselves and the demands of the world. We’re all wanting desperately to walk as godly mothers and wives. And we all know our only source of strength in this job is God. We spent quite a bit of time praying for each other as moms, dads and our children, and it just filled up my heart with inspiration for what God’s called me to. Humbling, convicting, encouraging and inspiring. Tomorrow is a new day to walk in the grace He gives and strive to be more of the godly mother He’s called me to.

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." — 2 Corinthians 9:8

To all my mom friends out there… I’m praying for you tonight. I’m thinking of you by name, praying that God would send you the same encouragement and inspiration He’s filled me with.