When Mama Needs Grace

“You’re a mean mommy. I want the good mommy!”

 

Well, I have to laugh AND cry.

My 3-year old dancing princess caught my attention. She uses words to get a rise from me, but I also knew she spoke truth about her feelings.

I’m such a terrible, horrible, no-good mommy! Ha.

Honestly, it was a rough day. I was a rough-around-the-edges mama.

It’s true. This grace-saved sinner needs more grace-filled moments than I’d like to admit.

This poster mom resonated beauty in the morning while scoring points toward the ideal homeschool mom award. Well, you know what I mean. I felt good about mamahood!

Smiling. Singing Songs. Crafting. Teaching a well-planned lesson. Emphasizing character. Pointing them to Jesus. Ha. Ha, again!

Then, the evening arrived. I lost my cool after the constant whines and demands grated my last nerve. (It’s Winter – we get a bit stuck. I’ll just leave it at that word – stuck.)

I wish I could tell you that I took a deep breath and prayed. Nope. I yelled. I threatened an early bedtime. And they could sense the frustration and anger gearing up.

“They” are my precious littles that I love with all of my heart. Why do I fail at loving them as perfectly as I want to?

I’m going to fail them. I’m going to sin against them simply because I’m born a sinful human. I get frustrated; I lose my patience.

I sin.

I don’t want to, but I do.

I have the precious Spirit of the Living God available to me – to change my mood – to calm me.

I need a heart-check with my Maker in these moments – especially in these moments. 

I’ve been bought with the beautiful blood of Jesus. Costly. Very costly.

“I owe it to Him to seek regeneration of spirit when I feel I’m checking-out and about to lose it. I owe it to the ones I love – especially my husband and children.”

Psalm 51:2 “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”

Keep Calm & Carry On.

Yes, and YES! HOW???

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The disgruntled look on my son’s face assured me that we all felt the stress. We were losing solid ground in the moment.

I pulled my six-year-old boy aside, “Hey sonshine, what would you say to mommy in these moments when she needs grace?”

“Get with God, mom. Relax. I’ll let you do that. I’ll listen.

I’ll stop complaining. I’ll be quiet.” 

Whoa, son! I’m failing you in the moment and Jesus is pouring grace out through you!

 “The kids are learning that a “mom with God” is the mom they want.”

How AWESOME is that?

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A friend and fellow homeschool mama shared a great post on Facebook a few weeks ago. It was a picture of a post-it note handwritten by one of her kids. It said, “Beware! No Bible time!”

Even better, they stuck it to her forehead!!! How hilarious? I hope you have a sense of humor to appreciate that. I certainly did.

I don’t know the details on how they actually placed the post-it on her head, but the message was clear. Mama missed her devotion time with God. Steer clear. 

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Dear little loves,

I want to be devoted to get things right in my heart with God, so that I can get things right with you!

I LOVE YOU!!

 

Have you ever been more effective after 3 hours of sleep while you pray through every moment of your day? I’ve been there – many times. Totally dependent on God – and it’s awesome.

It’s often the moments when I’m breezing through a wonderful, everything is “under-control” type of day when – suddenly THAT moment sneaks up. I’m tested. Will I succeed or fail?

Stop. Drop. Roll. 

Silly, right? We learn this in pre-school. It’s the way to get out of a fire.

Well, when the fire is about to flame inside with sins of impatience, frustration, anger… you name it…

STOP

the attitude. Recognize the problem. Pray. Just breathe and pray. 

Psalm 86:5 “For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; and abundant in mercy unto all them that call upon you.”

DROP

the agendas, checklists, intentions for the day. Ask the Lord, what can I drop? What activities can we skip today? Skip the store. Skip the Math. Leave the dishes in the sink! Skip the weekend plans. It’s time to adjust course.

If you’re in the car – drive to a parking lot and put on worship music. Tell the kids that it’s time to heart-check with God and re-focus. Let them know that sometimes God will re-direct our path. If we need to show up for dance a few minutes late in order to dwell in God’s presence – then so be it.

Deuteronomy 4:29-31 “But if from thence you shall seek the LORD your God, you shall find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

ROLL

with the word of God. Open up the Bible. Quote scripture from memory. Get on tea-time, music, and prayer. Who cares if everything comes to a halt at 2pm while the mama takes a 10-minute grace break with her RESCUE!

Which is better – Mary or Martha? Jesus understood the depth of difference between the two. It’s more than acts of service vs. worship. He knows what is best for us… because He loves us! He knows WE need it – the rest, the peace – we need HIM!

Psalm 145:8-9 “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all His works.”

It’s not always about our duty – it’s about what He’s already done.

Let Him do the work on the inside!

“Get out of the house on fire. Get into God’s House of Grace.” 

Let Jesus’ water wash over us and control that blaze. Let Him subdue our spirit as we submit.

Hey super-mama! Worship Jesus, rest in His word – abundant grace is yours – abundant grace flows through you.

Jesus Christ in you is simply enough for the day.

Choose His grace today. 

God’s seed: “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31