So….this post is for me, and maybe for you if you’ve had a bad day, week, year? Today I’m reminded of the book title “Motherhood in the Trenches.” Seems to sum up the last couple of weeks!
You know…nothing out of the norm. I’m blessed to have a happy healthy little toddler. (I really mean that.) Except of course when she’s teething, or dropping a nap, or has an ear infection, or is quickly approaching two. WHICH IS IT? What’s causing you such angst sweet child of mine?!
You know those weeks where you feel so pressed? It’s not just one thing, the hard weeks never are, right? But this week even the dog is struggling. I mean even as I type this post the iPad seems to be giving me a ‘tude. And do you know what ALL of this is revealing? It’s not just revealing that the world is crumbling around me, nope it isn’t. YES IT IS! It’s showing me that there is a need for more patience within me…there is a need for more grace to be given. Both from me, and to me. Last week I realized that while I was fighting hard to give grace, I wasn’t realizing that I needed grace.
Anytime I’m in a hard season, I’m reminded that it’s not really about the baby, it’s not really about my crabby dog, or the dumb iPad. This is good ol’ sanctification and is an opportunity for me to grow in my identity in Christ, or fold in and convince myself that the world is against me. I fully and completely accept that the only way to come on the other side of this mini-tough-season, is if God increases His grace for me. Teach me sweet Jesus, I want to learn quickly!
So I meditate on His words, appropriately titled in my notes “Hard mama day.”
Isaiah 40:29
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
To this I say, I can make it today, perhaps not tomorrow, but today I can 
. His mercies are new every morning.
Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.
When we have tough days we should turn first to his scriptures written so lovingly for us. His words BECAME my joy and the delight of my heart. On crappy days many times I can’t be joyful until I read His words. They are life giving, and truth when I want to believe lies.
Romans 12:12
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. KEEP PRAYING, keep pressing in. Keep worshipping Jesus in your hard times. When we worship Jesus, we don’t worship ourselves and our crappy days.
Phil 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Have you ever had a good day? Has God ever answered a prayer? Has He delivered you from anything?! Heather, did your child return to her happy self when you thought she maybe made her stink-face stick because she wore it too long? Is God still good despite your circumstances? YES!!! Then meditate on it.
And lastly from this blog post on respecting your daughters (although is truth for even sons)
“Submission isn’t just for wives. We are all called to submit our hearts and lives to God (James 4:7) and the earlier your daughter sees that in you, the sooner she will rest in the sweet protection of God’s will for her life.”
“Jesus transforms ugly hearts, emotions, and attitudes into beautiful reflections of himself.”
Lord, please transform my heart to mirror yours. And grant me an easy day soon .
This post is dedicated to my husband, who tollerated a certain (precious) cranky-pants baby, so that his cranky-pants wife could work out her salvation through this here little blog post.
