In this world, moms have become so overwhelmed with perfection.
We all struggle to live up to it
all. In the world of so many things that
take up our day to day time, we now stay up all night making valentine’s treats
that most of the kids will just pull the tag off and eat without knowing who it
is from. Or, if we give out homemade
crayons or a healthy option, they will just ignore it and move on. All of those hours for perfection once again,
but the only one that notices is that other mom that is always perfect. But of course, she stepped her game up this
time to make some sort of life size bunny rabbit for each and every child that
all the other moms are talking about. “But
I stayed up all night unwrapping crayons and cooking them, does anyone care
about that?’
I have to quickly admit, I just described my life. Recently, God really placed something on my
heart. “STOP trying to make the perfect life. Do you hear me???” This demand
from God really hit me hard as I looked at my children and thought, “God, those
kids deserve a life of perfection. My
husband, he deserves the world.” I
argued with God for quite some time on this.
I actually told him he was silly because that mom that is so cute when
she drops off those life size bunnies and drives that awesome car HAS to be
creating that perfect life that my kids and husband want and deserve.
Over the course of a few days, things started to make a little
more sense as I thought on this demand from God. I started to realize that God wasn’t finished
with his demand to me. He continued on
to say, “STOP trying to make the perfect life. Do you hear me??? Start
working on perfecting your faith.” Then it hit me, stop looking on pinterest for
the next big holiday treat, stop watching that other mom’s facebook page to see
what she might have up her sleeve. FOR
the love of all things, STOP comparing yourself to her perfection and find your
own in GOD!!! I quickly realized God was
NOT saying to stop doing for my kids or to stop trying to create a strong
relationship with my husband, but he was just saying if I focus on my perfection
of faith and my relationship with HIM, then that will lead to stronger
relationships across the board. I will
begin to feel fulfilled regardless what the other mom does or how awesome other
kids are dressed today.
I am continuing to work on this demand from God by making
some changes…
-
When I want to look at facebook, I stop and read
a devotional first.
-
When I want to pinterest something new and fun,
I stop to soak in a tea party with my daughter first or push my son on the
swing.
-
When I find that PERFECT outfit that would be
soooo precious on my kid, I wait 30 minutes before I buy it. Majority of the time, I honestly forget all
about it and I realize there is already something in their closet that is just
as cute.
-
When I want to admire or envy that other mom, I
stop to pray for her because I don’t know where her faith is with God, but I
want it to be as amazing as it can be.
-
When I decide what treat we will be giving for a
school party, I ask my kids their thoughts and even find something they can
help make and I don’t care when the bunny eyes end up on the bunny’s feet.
-
When I feel judged because the bunnies that my
kids made are pretty awful looking, I smile really big and say a prayer
thanking God for the precious time I was able to spend with my kids making
them.
I have decided I am going to stop wanting the PERFECT
LIFE. I am going to stop trying to be
the PERFECT WIFE. I am going to start
working on PERFECTION OF MY FAITH and I believe the rest will fall in place.
