If you were in my house today, you’d crunch graham crackers under your socks as you cross the kitchen floor. Then you’d lift your foot and find a pile of crumbs that I may or may not sweep before my children plow their Tigger riding train right through it.
If you were in my house today, you’d hear me barking at my kids to brush their teeth while I clank their empty cereal bowls on top of last night’s dishes still piled near the sink. Five minutes later, you’d hear me barking again while the toothbrushes stand dry in their cups and my kids beg for PEZ.
If you were in my house today, you’d trip over a heap of past-due library books my children still haven’t read. Tomorrow, we’ll return them to the library along with three dollars in fines, which I’ll have to borrow from my daughter’s piggy bank, raising my total promissory note to $162.
If you were in my house today, you could catch me snapping at my husband over some ridiculous, imagined offense that I’ll forget an hour later, after the damage is already done. I’m learning to love as God loves. But sometimes pride trips me up.
And if you were in my house today, you might detect a doorknob click as I lock myself in the bathroom to cry. Why? Well, why not. Too many deadlines on my desk, two dozen cupcakes to decorate for school, and we’re all running out of clean underwear. Sorry you had to see my drawer full of Zantac bottles and cherry-flavored Tums, my trusty warriors against another stress-induced stomachache.
Oh, and just a little tip when you walk in the living room—look up, not down. Or you might notice my carpet hasn’t been vacuumed in eight days, maybe nine. Okay, fine, ten. At least the cobwebs on the ceiling aren’t quite as glaring.
Then after a day or a minute in my house you might think, “Really? This girl writes devotions? She’s telling ME how to live? But her world is just as messy as mine.”
And you’d be right.
Which is exactly why I write devotions.
Because I need Jesus—desperately, day by day, hour by hour. And I know you need him, too. So I seek him in my ordinary wreckage, and I point you to him in yours.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me,” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
It’s taken me a long time to understand this, but I get it now. Our weaknesses are not something to hide.
They’re something to share.
Not only so we know we’re not alone in this family life juggling act, but also—especially—so that others can see the power of Jesus working in us. His grace gets me through the day. So if you enter my front door, you might find pretzel crumbs on the sofa and a preschooler still wearing pajamas at noon. But you’re welcome here. Because we all need open friends, kindred spirits, sisters who learn as much from our flaws as from our wisdom.
I’ve got lots of those flaws. You, too?
Excellent.
Come on in.
Because if you were in my house today, I hope and pray you’d find Jesus in the midst of it. Loving us, teaching us, forgiving us, and laughing—at the plastic zombie glasses my daughter insists on wearing to bed. Eh, I pick my battles. Now grab an apron and help me frost these cupcakes, amen?
Blessings,
Becky
THANK YOU.
Love this post!! Thanks for inviting me into your home. Linked up just after you over at Time Warp Wife.
Thanks so much for popping in from Titus 2sdays, Judith!
You are not alone! Thanks for sharing and by all means yes, I’ll help frost those cupcakes!
Megan
Thank you, Megan! It’s good to be in your company!
So very true – we write posts because we primarily are writing to ourselves – to point us to look towards Him, Who alone can help us. And if you were in my house today, you might notice that I have not cleaned my toilets in a week. Grateful to be reminded that this is all normal. Thanks, Becky!
Funny thing is, Joanne, we probably notice our own flaws more than others do. Don’t you dare clean your toilets just for me, sister! 🙂
Hey, girl! I would LOVE to visit your graham cracker and pretzel crumb home! Wouldn’t that be so fun? I mean, what hospitality you offer us, since not only could we chat but the snacks would be right at our fingertips, right?! ha! I picture you so vividely in all of these situations you’ve described and it reminds me of the humanity we all share. And you, my friend, are bravely wearing that humanity and humility for all of us to see and be inspired by. Don’t ever stop cuz I love your heart, Becky!
Ah, I would absolutely love it if we could visit in person, Beth! Graham crackers on me (literally, ha ha). Your encouragement is a continual blessing to me, my friend. I look forward to the day when we can meet beyond these screens!
youre def. not alone, and Im glad Im not either 😀
Amen, Brittney!
That sounds so much like a day in my life. We are all imperfect…but it’s our desire to be perfect that pushes us onward!!
Praise God that Jesus is perfect in every way. 🙂
I remember the busy years and how sharing with others on the same journey was so helpful. Hang in there. The slowing down will come.
I hopped over from Grace at Home, where we’re not neighbors, but kinda close to it.
Thanks so much for reading and offering your encouraging perspective, Dayle!
Oh Becky, thank you so much for inviting me in your house today! I am so glad we have Jesus… If you were in my house today you would see my dirty windows because it hasn;t stopped raining for the past few days and the large pile of laundry that is waiting to be washed because I can not hang it outside to dry due to the weather… I am visiting from Thriving Thursday! I am so glad I did and I will surely visit your house again… Blessings xxx
Windows are supposed to be washed, Natasha? 🙂 Thank you SO much for stopping by! I’ll look forward to seeing you here again!
LOL!!! Yes windows do need to be washed once in a while…hahahahaha!!! I am so glad I did stop by and you surely will see me here again dear Becky!!! May you have a wonderful weekend!!! 🙂
We all have our days like that. I love hearing people admit that not every day is perfect. I’d much rather read devotionals from a mom who has “real days” than one who claims to always live a perfect, godly life.
You’ll never hear me claim perfection from this house, Shell. I’m just so grateful to live for a perfect God. Always good to see you here!
Oh…the web shows all the pretty photos of our best foot forward and the piles live behind the camera and not in front.
Thank you for bravely turning the camera around. May HIS grace be more than sufficient today. And may HE redeem your time so you can make your sanctuary (home) a more beautiful place. He has such a way of doing that. Blessings…
This is a delightful post! Great writing! Thanks for your encouragement!
Hey Becky,
After attending the Green Lake Women’s Conference this past weekend and joining your session, I have found that a lot of what you said has continued to resonant with me this week. It was so amazing to hear what you were saying and feel like I was looking in a mirror. Thank you so much for your willingness to let God speak through your experiences in parenting and marriage. It was a great reminder of how we are His children and children need constant redirecting/teaching/love/encouragement and are not meant to do everything on their own.:)
As a reference for you, I was the blubbering/laughing prego in the third row. Definitely going to be checking back on your site for wisdom and comic relief.;)
Grateful,
Kristi
Hi, Kristi! I’m so glad you found me here! Of course I remember you. You blessed me with your enthusiasm for our breakout session. We moms need to stick together! I hope you’ve been having a great week. Let’s stay in touch!
Hi Becky!
You were/are a true blessing to me. I felt that God had me in the exact place I needed to be at the right time. Thank you for your encouragement! I will for sure be following your everyday adventures and see how God continues to use you/your life/your family to teach and bless others. Continue on my sista!
Kristi
This couldn’t be more true or real and makes me want to sit and talk about motherhood and Jesus with you! How easily we can make our lives look as if we have it all worked out but how much more useful are we if we can show how God has it in Hos hands! Loving your blog and sharing!
Hi, Cassandra! Your comment really blesses me tonight… as I’m looking around at the mess in my living room, the unfinished crafts on the kitchen table, and the general mayhem in which I am living at the moment. But it’s all a blessing if we look at it with the right eyes. Thank you so much for reading and sharing! Come on over to Wisconsin and let’s have microwave chai while we chat about life. 🙂
Love this!!
Thanks for reading, Tami! 🙂
Hey girl Hey- You and I are going to be great friends. I loved this post. Thank you for speaking my heart.
Thank you! I really appreciate your post. Good was talking to me through your post. Just 5 minutes ago, I was ready to lock my door and cry, asking what I’m doing wrong. Why my house looks like the bigger mess ever seen. And you remember me the most important thing, praise God for my family and our relationship with Him. Once again thank you!
Thank you for reading and sharing your heart, Andrea. I keep telling myself that my house will be perfect once again, someday, and then I’ll miss the little people running around making messes. Your mess is a blessing!
I absolutely love this post and have come back to reread it many times.
Oh, thank you, Marisol! Blessings to you and your family!