Anyone, then who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. (James 4:17)
Here are the top 25 things I have learned from my toddler…
Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], making the most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16, AMP)
The Lord continues to convict me about wishing away any portion of my life. You see when we wish away the tough moments, we also wish away the good moments. It’s a package deal. When we wish for the next season of life, we lose out on enjoying this season.
As a mom, I think it can be tempting to wish away certain moments. Every time I find myself in that place, I need to remind myself what I’m really wishing away. If I wish away the sleepless nights I also wish away the nighttime cuddles. If I wish away the emotional melt downs of my toddler I also wish away his tender kisses, thoughtful words, and sweet hugs. If I wish away the mess I wish away the play time. If I wish away my day I miss out on the moments God designed for me to enjoy. If I wish away the poopy messes (and believe me there are plenty) I wish away tender moments of learning and growth of independence in my children.
This [day in which God has saved me] is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24, AMP)
The Lord has really impressed on my heart to simplify some things. So I’ve been taking a step back and looking at ways I can simplify. I find that joy is often squashed and even snuffed out when life gets too busy. Sometimes it becomes an art form to say how busy we are.
However, in God’s Word I see over and over again that it was those who lived simply who experienced the greatest joy. The ones who didn’t get too busy to wait on the Lord. Busyness can be such a tool of the enemy sometimes distracting us from what is best by laying good things at our feet.
Then Joshua set up [a second monument of] twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day. (Joshua 4:9, AMP)
Lately, I’ve been feeling like I want to keep a better record of these sweet days that God has given me with my boys. I want to share some of my adventures in motherhood. I know that one day they will be grown and doing their own thing. I want to be able to look back and see that I thrived through motherhood. I don’t want to see a record of survival. I want to celebrate the crazy moments, embrace the not so pleasant moments, appreciate the growth process in myself and my boys, and more than anything set up places to remember God’s faithfulness through this season of life.