See if you can relate:
I am “in it” right now. I have two toddler boys and another 9-month old boy following hot on their heels. I was never a super-together mom, but having my third really threw me off kilter. After four years of no breaks between pregnancies and the newborn/night feeding stage I feel like I’m in a permanent state of exhaustion. I am a human pinball careening from one child to the next, leaving tasks in various states of completion and feeling like I’m not doing anything well.
I yearn for my own space/time/rest and in that desire, I often fail to do my best for my family. For the first time in our marriage, I feel like I don’t have anything left for my husband. He is incredibly patient but I need to do better.
My relationship with God has fallen even further down the list and THAT is at the heart of my emotional turmoil. So many of your posts echo the thoughts in my head, letting me know I am not alone, but also point back towards God and scripture, convicting me of the places I need to start working on first. Thank you for that. Now to start working…without doing the usual “become perfect by tomorrow” plan.
The words of wisdom above were in an email that I received a while back. Oh how I love reading your emails and comments. It helps me realize that I am not alone in the craziness!
I love the metaphor she uses of the pinball! This is so true. I bounce from one person to another begging to be released of the game by the end of the day.
This email echoes several recent questions on the ABC Jesus Loves Me Facebook Group. Each time I post a comment, I encourage the group to rise early to spend time with our Savior. Not because I have all the answers but because I made so many mistakes that forced me to run to God.
As our sweet sister said in the email above, “making sense of the daily madness begins when our eyes are on Christ.” This is first and foremost if change is going to happen.
One more time: Making sense of daily madness begins when our eyes are on Christ.
Sweet friends, we are unable to change ourselves. We are unable to change our circumstances. Trust me. I have tried both with much fervor. (Read “What is Your Reaction to the Roaring River?”)
If we want change to happen, we must run into God’s arms broken and ready for heart surgery. No more excuses about lack of time or the season of life. Today is the perfect day for true change to begin. But don’t worry; the surgeon is gentle and it will change your life.
Want to begin your day with your eyes on Christ? I encourage you to read my free ebook “A Quiet Time Worth the Time.”
I feel like I could have written that email you received – except I have 3 daughters, not sons! Mine are 2 1/2, 1 1/2, and 5 months! The pinball analogy is the perfect description. I feel like someone needs me at every second of the day! I used to be up early every morning spending time with God, but with each child I've added it got pushed further and further down the list. I just started today getting up early again. Pray I can keep this up. It helped my day tremendously!! Thank you for your posts. Keep sharing!!!
I pray that you are being faithful to start the morning with God. It has made a huge difference in my life!
How appropriate the timing of this post. I have a 2 1/2 year old, 1 year old and am due with #3 in Feb. I left my "professional" life last Fall to stay home with the kids and while I was great at my job I often feel lost trying to stay on top of rings in the home. Unfinished projects, disorganization, poor planning and my heart aches knowing that I must get God back at the top of my list of priorities in life. I've never been a morning person, but know that those hours before the kids wake up are the best time with God and the best time for me. We put so much pressure on ourselves to be the perfect mom/wife/homemaker – it was nice to know I'm not alone in feeling I fall short in so many ways. Thank goodness for the grace of God.
I know exactly what you mean. I began staying home when I had my first (of three) but I still remember the sense of accomplishment and the constant feedback I received in the workplace. It was so easy to tell if I was doing well. I was organized and on top of it. At home, now…not so much. I think I must be doing okay from a "big picture" point of view. My kids are happy and generally well-behaved and people always tell me nice things about them…but in the day to day, the house is trashed, I lose my patience a bazillion times a day and the guilt stabs my heart every time I don't live up to my own expectations for myself. I WANT to be perfect for them.
That said…I have been getting up early for the past week, spending my time with God and it is helping. Starting my day there helps me to return over and over again throughout the day as often as necessary. So constantly. 😛
Love the thought of returning over and over again. Thank you for that word picture!
Very appropriate timing on this. With a 2 1/2 year old, 1 year old and #3 on the way, I often feel like I don't get a day off and am "on call" all hours. I've never been a morning person, but know in my heart of hearts that this is the optimal time to have a quiet time as it's quiet and it get my day off to a good start. It's also good to get up early and plan for the day when I can be uninterrupted. Going to need God's strength and prayer to help me to rise early, but know I will be so much better for it.
Hang in there, sweet momma! We are in this adventure together 🙂