Growing in the Middle of Insanity

The kids and I have been reorganizing and rearranging our school books and papers, and while we were doing so, Evvie began to read some of her short essays out loud to her younger brothers and sister.  She read one in particular which she entitled "What Is God Like?," and I wanted to share it with you today.  Before I share, though, I want to say up front, that I am not sharing this because I am proud of my daughter.  I am thankful for her and extremely thankful for the way God is working in her life, but there is not a day that goes by that I am not reminded that it is only because of God's wonderful and undeserving grace that my family is what it is.  There is not a single day that I do not ask God to protect us from our own failures and pride.  There is not a day that goes by without my asking God to work in my children's lives in spite of my multitudes of failures, and yes, even in spite of my children themselves.  

The reason I share this with you is to encourage you - especially if you are a mom of littles.  As Evvie read this out loud, the thought that came to my mind was that if someone would have told me 5 years ago that my 9 year old daughter would write something like this, I would have laughed hysterically and told them that they obviously were not aware of the insanity level of our home.  I remember having 4 babies 4 and under.  It was exhausting!  It was never ending, and I was 110% positive that I was doing E V E R Y T H I N G wrong!  It was constant neediness!  I mean, do you realize, how much time I spent standing by the sink brushing 4 sets of teeth every morning and evening!?!  I made a promise to myself while I was in the middle of those crazy, insane, what the Mr. and I labeled "fight for survival" years that I would not forget what it was like because I wanted to be able to encourage other moms who were experiencing the same insanity!  

And so, today, I share this essay from my daughter with you to remind you that what you are doing does matter!  Reading a Bible story to your munchinks even though you are fairly certain no one is listening will be rewarded! Pulling your toddler away from the toilet for the hundredth time is teaching him something!  Staying up all night long with the teething baby and then trying to be cheerful for the older kids all the next day is worthwhile.  Reasoning with your 4 year old will pay off!  Faithfulness in the little things will bring immeasurable rewards in the future!  I am by no means an expert mom, but I am learning that motherhood truly is a walk of faith.  I now know that those 6 years of insanity were years that God was using to show me that He did it all.  Without Him, everything truly would have fallen apart.  And now, as I prepare to begin a different journey into motherhood with older children, I can look back and see where God has been faithful to me in the past, and I can know that He will do it again!  God has been more than faithful to me, and He will continue to be as long as my heart faithfully longs for Him.  Don't give up, Mommas!  God is using this time to grow and stretch you beyond what you think is possible, but He will show you...very soon...the fruit of your labor, and it will make every sleepless night, every scream fest,  every tear that you and your babies have cried so worth it!

What Is God Like?

Written by Evvie Grace on 1/22/13

I want to tell you what my God is like.  My God is loving!  John 3:16 says that He loved us so much He sent His only Son to take our punishment - death - on himself!  God is the Creator.  He created the whole entire world by himself and He didn't make it with his hands!  He made it simply by speaking words!  Genesis 1:1 tells us "and God said let there be light and there was light."  God is powerful.  In the story of Joshua and Jericho when they blew the trumpets the walls came tumbling down!  Joshua 6:20 says that "The wall fell down flat so that the people went up into the city every man strait before him and they took the city."  That is powerful!  So, my God is loving, the Creator and powerful!

I pray you all have a beautiful weekend reflecting on God's grace and faithfulness in your life!  As we mommas celebrate Mother's Day, let's remember that without His grace we are nothing.  All the glory belongs to God!  He has promised to be faithful to the end, and we can trust that promise completely!

Wishing you a day full of blessings,

Christy