It's a New Day

I set small goals for myself weekly. They usually involve keeping my anxiety under control, eating healthier and moving, as in some form of exercise. I’ve nearly eliminated caffeine from my diet.(yay,me!) ,I started walking in the evening when possible, and I am paying more attention to the number of times I pop random pieces of candy and snacks into my mouth that my kids leave lying around! While I am making progress, yesterday saw it’s share of debacles in most of these areas. My walk was too short and my snacking was over the top. My stress level was peaking by 5pm so consequently…..

I lost it with my kids. Yep, I took an all out hissy fit over a mess they made in the living room. I was furious, and I didn’t hide it. It wasn’t pretty. Once I got a grip on my meltdown, we cleaned up the disaster area together and all was well; except that I had hurt them with my words. So we talked. I explained that while I had every right to be upset, my approach was all wrong. I asked them to forgive me and during our bedtime prayers I asked God to forgive me, too. I used this not so proud moment to show them how God’s merciful grace covers our shortcomings-mine and theirs.

I’m so grateful for forgiveness and grace.

No doubt I will lose my temper again. And no doubt, the God of mercy will forgive me, and so will my kids. I pray that when they have mess making, crazy causing, rambunctious rug rats of their own that they will remember what I taught them about failing and forgiveness, messes and mercy, and God and grace.

 Lamentations 3:20-24 says

I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

So today I ponder yesterday’s chaos, not to feel condemned but to feel gratitude for another day to try and get it right. I pray for patience and discernment as I try to prepare these littles to launch into capable adulthood, complete with lessons of the sweet love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

His mercies are new every morning! Thanks be to God!