“Won’t you be glad when this is over?”
“Bet you’ll be relieved when the wedding is over!”
“Don’t worry, life will get better in a week, (when the wedding is over).”
” Let’s celebrate the end of all of this ‘stress‘ by going out to eat!”
These were comments made to me last week by friends before our son’s wedding on Saturday. None of the comments were made by anyone who was actually involved in the wedding planning or even knew of my role in it.
I understand why the comments were made. Wedding planning can be very stressful. I don’t hold anything against my friends! No indeed!!!!! I would have made the same comment 20 years ago.
What each of the friends were inferring, is what I call the greatest enemy of moms.
We are led to believe that we can’t enjoy times or days in our lives that might be stressful or busy.
Do we really believe that that time or day will come? Do we really think that a day without stress or busyness is automatically filled with joy?
Well. maybe when…..
- my children sleep through the night…
- my children are ‘old enough’ to help…
-my husband’s work schedule changes…
-when ….
-when what???
When my oldest turned 5. I woke up to the fact that that ‘magic’ day will never come.
I had been so overwhelmed raising my 4 young sons, that when people kept telling me that as soon as my oldest son turned 5 and went to kindergarten, my life would get SO much better, I believed them.
Looking back, I have NO idea why I thought that my oldest going to kindergarten would help my life in any way! He was my helper. He was the oldest! The most experienced in helping. And now he was gone…all day.
I realized that there will not be a time when suddenly everything is great…no troubles…no stress…just 100% joy.
Praise the Lord that through that experience, I realized that I better enjoy every part of every day of every season of my life, because there was not going to be a magic day. The joy that I wanted in my life was a choice. I could choose to walk in joy DESPITE my circumstances or in conjunction with them. No matter what.
If we, as moms, are not enjoying our busy days with our children, our attitudes are going to have to change because our circumstances are not going to. At least not any time soon.
Looking forward to a better day, dreading an occasion, or wishing events or days would just hurry up and end so that we can get them over with, is not living the quality of life that God intended. We need to choose to accept the day as it is.
Choosing to accept and to be content is such a blessing!
I memorized these verses, and often meditate on them when life gets a little crazy! I find them extremely comforting and helpful.
Philippians 4:10-13
New International Version (NIV)
Thanks for Their Gifts
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
