What is true

In preparation for the ladies and kiddos coming over this morning I was reading Philipians 4 in the New Living Translation. Paul is talking about how he has learned to live:

(11)...I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. (12) I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.

And what is that secret? (13) For I can do everything through Christ,* who gives me strength. Wow...

We are encouraged, if not commanded, to (8)...Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Ok, here comes the confession: even after reading this I wasn't content and wasn't focused on the lovely part of our morning. I was mostly focused on the fact that we didn't get in the prayer time and biblical discussion time I wanted so badly. Here's the lovely part: all of our children are healthy, the sun was shining, and we got to spend time together. I feel badly about my attitude. It didn't reflect the scripture I had JUST read. Man...I missed the boat.

Lord, please help me to be content. I miss so much when I choose to ignore what you have provided today. What you have put before me today is really awesome. I'm sorry I missed it. Help me to focus on all that is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. You, God, are worthy of praise. Thank you for loving me and giving me the rest of this day to do better. I know it's going to be really good. Love you!

I'm so not qualified

Yesterday a dear friend shared some news that was really hard. An experience she's going through with her kids who are more than a decade older than mine. I gave her some advice and prayed with her. I love her to bits. She's trying so hard.

I was thinking about it this morning and wondering why I give people advice ever, at all. I feel like what I have to offer is so minimal. I've only been doing this mom thing for a little more than 2 years, and the wife thing 3 1/2. What do I know? Every day is something new. A day I've never experienced before. I'm winging it with God's help. I'm learning as I go.

It also occurred to me that I often assume other people are just naturally good at things that I struggle with. In reality, they have had to learn, just like I am. It's just that most of the ladies around me have a head start. I often feel like I'm trying to catch up in a race that I missed the starting bell for. Like everyone else, and their uteruses (is that a word? should it be uteri?), heard the gun go off first and I was standing around doing things like going to grad school, buying a house, renovating it, teaching with passion, and playing soccer until my legs fell off. Now I'm running to catch up, and have the same amount of experience they have when I know deep, deep down that our experiences are just different and that it doesn't really matter. Lord, help me get perspective. Please...

Father God, please be with me today as I do the job you've given me to do for this season. Help me to live by faith in the knowledge that you are with me and know my heart. And that you love me anyway. Help me to fight the lie that this season of my life is any less valuable than the season before it. Please help me also to stop comparing myself to others. Please be with my friend today as she parents her children with all her might. I love you, Lord. Thank you so much for the hope you give us all in eternity if only we can call on you and believe. Your generosity is amazing. In Jesus' name, Amen.....