Just In Case You Ever Wonder...

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Wonder Woman doesn't live here.

On a few occasions, a friend or acquaintance has made the following statement to me:

"Oh, my goodness. You are so calm! You are always so sweet and kind with your children. How do you keep it all together? I wish I could do that."

I'm writing this post because, well, why AM I writing this post?

A) I don't want to be a fraud.

Really. I do not have it all together! Nothing could be farther from the truth! I yell. Sometimes I yell a lot. Sometimes I'm rough with my children because I am so frustrated or angry. Sometimes I frown when I should offer a smile, sometimes I scold when I should offer grace, and sometimes I escape to do my own thing when I should pour myself into the heart of a child who needs me. I struggle to keep up with my laundry and dishes. There are days when I PRAY that no one will come to my door and see the chaos that is reigning within. Sometimes I go into my bathroom and tell God that He picked the wrong woman for this job. I am real and I have struggles just like you. Honest.

B) I don't ever want to be a source of discouragement to someone. 

I've read the books or the blogs with a happy mama and smiling (perfect?) children shining out from the pages or screen. I know what it can do to a woman to see a small glimpse of someone's life and think, "Why can't I be like that? What is wrong with me? If only I got it together and did XYZ and ABC." The thing is...you can't see that woman lose it because the two year old let the dog escape out the door again, cry because she has no idea what to feed these children for supper (why do they have to eat THREE TIMES EVERY DAY?), grit her teeth in anger because of a blowup she has with her husband, and the list goes on. If I'm going to lose my temper or get frustrated or cry my eyes out because, by golly, this job is so hard(!), I'm not going to do it in the grocery store. Well, most likely.

C) I want you to know that if you see something good here...it is Jesus.

If I die tomorrow, I want the story of my life to be this: her life was full of His grace. Wow. If you see me being patient with my children, please know this: it is Jesus working in me and through me. I am not a patient person. Thankfully and beautifully, however, Jesus is. And because of the fact that He saved me from my own sin and rescued me from my own willfulness and choices...He lives inside of me. And when He comes to live inside of you, He gives you the power to do things you couldn't do otherwise. Even things like slowly giving you more patience for the child who keeps stepping on your bare toes with their darn cowboy boots. Testify! Jesus changes me. He teaches me. He gives me wisdom that I definitely lack. So, if you see something amazing--that's Him. If you see me lose it, you can say, "Ah! There she is." That's the me without Jesus, OK?

D) I want you to know that you are a great mom.

I'm as guilty as the next woman of comparing myself to others. And, I might be risking being struck by lightning by telling you to not compare yourself. But there you have it. Don't do it. Because God loves you. He has great plans for you and your kids. He wants to help you and love you and guide you and give you wisdom. He put you with your child because you are the perfect mom for that child. He did not make a mistake! He is not slapping his forehead every time you mess up. He is holding you in the palm of His hand caring for you and simply asking you to trust Him as you parent these children. He is bigger than our weaknesses. Amen and Amen.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.