No “Joy Comes In The Morning”?

Tweet

Today's guest post comes from Ms. Celita at The Spices of Life. She lives in Italy with her husband and five kids. And her other blog, Days Ease, showcases her beautiful papercuttings.

Mommy says she knows all about mornings like this one, and she's sure you'll get the same blessing from God's whisper that she did.

---------------
Oh, what a relief when a morning starts off right! Today is not the day. There are moments, like today, when I feel like a failure. As a mother, I try to do my best to keep the ambiance of our home even-keeled, peaceful, or at least amiable, especially in the morning before anyone goes to work or to school, or during holidays, special events, or outings. It is impossible for it to be perfect all the time, but when the days are just completely contrary to harmony and there is nothing but bickering, fighting, disobedience, and backtalk, well, there is a limit to how much of that I can take.

It is a little different if some member of my family returns home from work or school and is tired after a LONG day. Though it is still not acceptable behaviour, it is normal to have a shorter fuse and to have a little more trouble curbing a quick, unkind response or the exasperated glare that escapes unawares. This is one thing, but… What does one do when a morning begins that way? When nothing you say is heeded, when disrespectful words spring forth from tongues just too comfortably, when nothing seems to go right- and because of it all, frustration seeps in, swarms around viciously trying to understand it all and recapture some semblance of a restful state, only to become more disturbed, more stressed, more opposite of the original desire?

Sigh… BIG sigh…

Inhale… Exhale… Inhale… Exhale…

Echoes of a morning begun with shouting, crying, and disciplinary action overwhelm my mind. It is not pleasant to look back on, and I wonder if it will be better when we are all together again later in the day. The ordeal leaves me concerned that my children will forever remember the bad that occurs in our lives more than the good. It makes me wonder if they will grow up hating me for trying to stand up for what is right. It makes me sad that right now, in this moment, my “enemies” are not strangers from the outside, they are my own beloved children.

What happened to those days full of laughter, smiles, and just relishing time together? Being discouraged makes me question if it will every be that way again.

And yet, my perspective MUST change.

As my mind rants and raves over every detail, a small reminder whispers its way to my heart…”remember…”

Distracted with things and emotions seemingly stronger, it takes a while to realize it and give attention to it.

“Remember…” the whisper comes just slightly louder.

Okay, WHAT!!!??? Remember what?

This is what I felt whispered to my weary, sore heart...

Remember:

* You are not alone, for I have promised to “never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

* There is no trial that comes your way that you cannot overcome in MY strength. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

*Your failure wasn’t in having a bad morning, as much as it was from your not surrendering the day over to ME before it actually began; so, letting My Spirit be absorbed into your attitude, your words, your heart and mind. That is part of what if means to “love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength…” (Mark 12:30)

You got too busy for Me. Even though you prayed, it was routine. Even though the words were from your heart, your heart was not in it.

* Motherhood is your job, your calling, and there is so much importance in the duties that come with it. You have to direct, guide, train, encourage, discipline, and so much more, and the irony of it all is to LOVE in the disciplining, in the moments of firmness, in the difficult teachings and learnings. It is not easy, but, again, trust and surrender to Me, and ask Me. I will give you wisdom, creativity, that extra measure of patience and love, and the just-right words. I did it for Moses. “I am the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) So, what I have done for others, I will also do for you.

I love you, and as much as you love your family, I Love Them MORE.
So follow your own advice: trust in, cling to, rely on, and believe in ME. That is faith…

* Being “content in all circumstances” (Philippians 4:11) does not mean having no hard times or not feeling in hard times. It DOES mean trusting and surrendering to a most Faithful God whose Love Endures Forever, in good times and in bad.

So, that was one LONG whisper. It was what I needed to remind me that I need to re-give it all back to Jesus: my concerns, my hurts, my fears, my expectations, my desires, my all. I need to let go and allow my heart to be soft and open. I need to trust my precious Lord.
Yes, I failed, but… it passes. And, after I become more responsive to the prodding of God, He does help me. And, “Joy DOES come in the morning”… when I let in the Light and Love of The Son.

Parenting

Tweet

We went to the beach yesterday and I had lots of fun boogie boarding and jumping the waves with Daddy! It was cold but so fun, I didn't mind at all!
I did hurt my elbow, so I've been saying owie a lot and crying and not doing anything with my right arm. But this morning I was back to picking up the cat and dragging her around the house. We went to the doctor and waited in his office for 1 1/2 hours (where I threw my bottle around and blocked the front door and insisted horses were donkeys), and he said there was really nothing wrong (something about dislocating the elbow but not really a dislocation that should be better by itself in another day or so), so I can't manipulate my parents too much anymore.
Thanks to The Mommy...Etc for tagging us on this meme!
Here goes...The Family Photo comes first:
1. How many kids? One
2. Ages? Esmé is 20 months.
3. What time does our day start? Since we are on holiday with no regular routine, this is a great question that I'd love the answer to! Usually somewhere between 6 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
4. Breakfast? A few spoons of oatmeal, a few bites of a hot cross bun, a grape and a half, and maybe some dry cat food.
5. Does she watch TV? We didn't have it while in Mozambique, but she watched her Barney DVD over and over and over and over, plus some other DVDs and short online videos at from totlol.com. And now we're getting acquainted with South African television...
6. Favorite activities? Watching Barney, going to the beach, playing with Barbies and other babies, naming objects and things in pictures, coloring/painting/cutting/writing, washing dishes and sweeping and otherwise "helping" in the kitchen, skateboarding, and doing tricks with her Daddy.
7. Do I get a break during the day from Esmé? Who needs a break??? Well, not at the moment. Except for naptime, I guess... If I'm lucky, that is about 3 hours. In Mozambique Ms. Cathrine watched Esmé in the mornings for about 3 hours, too, so I could get my Maranatha work done.
8. How do we end our day? Depends on if Esmé is crashing yet or not, seeing as we're not on a regular routine at the moment. If she's doing okay, it's bathtime, medicine and toothbrush and lotion and brush and jammies, and then reading a few books (or maybe the same book over and over). I always include at least one Bible story and usually limit it to 5 books. Then a short prayer and I nurse her (still, yes, I know). If all goes well, she falls asleep, otherwise I lie next to her for hours singing to her and trying to keep her laying down on her bed.
9. Best parenting advice/tips? Please, give me some! I don't feel wise enough to pass any on at this stage! I guess I've got advice for newborns, and after we pass through the terrible twos maybe I'll be able to pass on some advice for this stage. Hindsight is 20/20 and all...
10. PASS IT ON: Z's Mom, MessyFunMommyLife, Grasping for Objectivity, Teaching Tinytots, and Here to There.