Tea Time

When she woke up from her nap today I told her that a special surprise awaited her.  Angelina wanted to have tea and cookies with my sweet girl.  She was thrilled. 

My parenting got a big, fat fail earlier in the day.  I allowed my fustration, my weariness, my sinfulness to cloud what my expectations of my children should be. 

When I was a teenager and used to babysit other people's children, motherhood didn't look so hard.  Dare I say it even looked e-a-s-y.  Well sure, Lil, when you show up at the end of the day, serve a meal someone else prepared, slap some clean pj's on the kiddos, read a book or two to put them to sleep all before retiring on the couch to enjoy their flat screen, it is! 

In fact, this gig takes constant training along with a dose of humble pie to realize that I don't have it all figured out.

By His grace though, I know the One who does.  I know the One who knit these babies together from the beginning.  I know that He calls this duty a privilege, not a waste. 

On my refrigerator are these wise and encouraging words...
Today, I will pray to speak words that are only strong words, words that make these children feel strong.  Grace words.  Grace is the only non-toxic air.  All other words I breathe are death words.

Today I will pray to be consistently consistent.  I will create safe rhythms that our children find security in.

Today, when I feel most repelled by a child's behavior, that is the sign I need to draw the very closest to that child. 

Today, my priorities will be all Things Unseen.  

Today, I will laugh!  And I will let the little children laugh!  I will create a culture of joy! - Ann Voskamp