Giving myself and others grace is something I have to continually work on. Recently my husband Charlie and I had a free morning on Saturday, no plans, which is a very rare occurrence. Either he’s working or we have something going on so naturally we decided to get things done around the house.
Our kids did not get that memo, however. They fussed and whined because we have a free Saturday, so when you’re young, that means mom and dad play with you non stop, all day long. We were on separate wavelengths which made everyone in a bad mood. So I did what any good mother would do and just ignored them and sent them to their room…the girls, not the baby. Charlie and I chatted downstairs while the girls screamed from upstairs; we were frustrated about why we couldn’t get anything done and why no matter what we did that day, someone was fussing at us.
It was a rough day, a day I wanted to just write off, start over. I gave myself zero grace that day. I deemed myself a bad mom, a bad wife; it was only 1pm and I told myself I wasted an entire Saturday that we had together complaining and feeling defeated.
I have this verse hanging on our wall. Thanks to Hobby Lobby clearance section, you can now read yourself through our entire house…
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
-Lamentations 3:22-23
So momma, when you burn the meal and feed your family cold cereal for dinner, give yourself grace.
When your kids don’t sleep at night and you haven’t showered in 3 days, give yourself grace.
When you just yelled at the top of your lungs at your children, the ones you love and adore more than anything, give yourself grace.
When you can’t remember the last time you mopped your kitchen floor, give yourself grace.
When you haven’t exercised in a month, give yourself grace.
When your clothes are covered in spit up, sweat, and unidentified stains, give yourself grace.
When you just CAN’T, and you turn on the 10th Daniel Tiger for the day just so you don’t have to answer any more questions, give yourself grace.
Thank you God that tomorrow is a new day! Thank you God for the grace you give us and for so many chances to try again. Thank you God for the tough days that help mold us into the person You created us to be. Thank you for your gentle reminders that we can’t do life on our own and we need Your strength daily.
While we’re on the subject of grace, I once attempted to (apparently unsuccessfully) explain to the girls what grace is and that they really needed to give mommy some grace that day. June replies without hesitation, “but mommy, where IS the grace? I can’t find it!”
I love 3 year olds and how they simplify our over complicated minds. They also make the toughest days hilarious when they need to be.
A Lively Home 