Refresh my Soul

As parents, I think that we all question ourselves.  Did we make the right decision?  Do they know how much we love them?  Am I messing up my kids? How can I get everything done?  How can I be everything to everyone....and on and on and on

I recently came across a book written by Lysa TerKeurst called "Am I messing up my kids? and other questions every Mom asks"  I flipped the book over and these 5 bullet points hit me like a ton of bricks:

• forgive yourself for honest mistakes
• look to the Lord for what you need each day
• refuse to be either Slacker Mom or Super Mom
• trust God with your greatest fears
• grow as a person and as a Mom

I knew this was the book for me....

I started reading a chapter every night before bed and love the humor and real life stories that this Mother of 5 tells in the book.  But the busy week last week and holiday got in my way and I hadn't been paying attention to my nightly devotionals and it caught up with me...FAST, LIKE A TON OF BRICKS HITTING ME IN THE FACE....and I was done and needed to refresh my soul.

So tonight, I slowed down, let the laundry pile up, the dishes sit in the sink, turned off my blackberry and took some time for me and God.  Had a little talk, asked him for some help and opened my book.  Low and behold my devotion tonight was titled "Does God Care About Me"? The devotion was all about how woman try to do it all and how do we balance our crazy busy life.  Coincidence?  I think not...

So tonight, I ask you busy crazy Mom's to not forget why we celebrate Christmas this year, it's not about the perfect tree, the latest video game or the best decorated cookies in the preschool class.  It's about HIM and HE reminded me tonight that he is with me always and cares about me always, even when I'm so busy and forget to give HIM the time he deserves.

I leave you with my favorite paragraph from tonights reading:

"Where this peace starts to slip is when I try to figure God out.  I try to reason my way into the peace rather than praying and making the choice to stop all my toil and wondering and leave them in God's hands.  Accept each step God puts before me as my temporary assignment, fulfill that part of it, and leave the rest with Him.