It is only Tuesday and it is only nap time. But this week has been a great week so far!
Last week was very difficult. All the kids were sick, whiny, and clingy. And to top it off, Monkey has really hit the terrible two’s. Except he’s three. The two’s don’t have anything on the three’s! Constant disobedience. My once sweet and darling little boy has turned into something completely different. He defies everything I say. Every task becomes a battle. And every fun thing turns out terrible. This, of course, all contributed to my breakdown on Saturday, the day of Sweet Pea’s birthday.
But then this week happened. I’ve been spending more time in prayer. Not the “thank you, Jesus, for this meal” kind of prayer. But the constant speaking to Jesus kind of prayer. When I wake up I begin talking to Him, and throughout the day I seek Him. Songs of praise enter my mind and I begin to sing them. It’s amazing how things are different when Jesus is at my forethought. And since having an early morning quiet time where I can spend an extended amount of time in His presence isnt’ quite happening these days, the next best thing, perhaps THE best thing, is to constantly talk to Him throughout the day. My thoughts are becoming infused with Jesus, leading my actions and my speech to reflect Him. This leads to more conversations of Him with the little ones. But then I realized, these tend to happen more often on days when things are going well.
Take today for example. This morning was Sweet Pea’s two-year wellness visit at the doctors. It wasn’t too early, so we had plenty of time to get ready and we weren’t rushing out the door. Rushing can always lead to meltdowns, from both me and the kids. Everyone was great at the doctors! Well, as great as one can be when three children and two adults spend 40 minutes in a room smaller than a jail cell. Afterwards, we went to Chick-Fil-A to eat and play on the playground. Monkey is taking his leadership role very seriously. While I waited in line with Sweet Pea and Newby, Monkey took it upon himself to get straws, napkins, and placemats for everyone. Then I asked him to set everything down at the table in the very back corner (near the playground, of course), and he did! He proceeded to get a highchair for his sister and pushed her to the table while I brought the food! I even sent him on a mission to get me a drink refill, which he executed quite effectively. I was SO proud of him! Since Monkey was in dire need for a haircut, we swung by and got one of those, too. What a big boy he was, sitting in the chair by himself being perfectly still! When we got home, everyone went potty and went down for nap. Success! I sighed at such a wonderful day on this rainy day. So productive! I must be Mother-of-the-Year, or Day, at least!
But then I realized I should be JOYFUL on days went things don’t go so well. Like last week. Instead of seeking God in those moments-by-moments, I was cursing the day. Praying for it to go by quicker. Praying for Hubby to get home faster. Praying for the sun to hurry away and for the moon to make her arrival. However, the Bible tells us in James 1:
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Will you pray with me, brothers and sisters in Christ, that the next time I, or you, find ourselves coming unglued that we will seek God first? And that on the days when everything that can go wrong will, that we will still be joyous? Because we have something special. We have Jesus Christ!
The Humble Sparrow 