How Have I Struggled?

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Corinthians 4:8-10

This morning my devotional included the fully loaded question of "How have I struggled?"

Honestly, I think I would rather have skipped this question. Seriously! This was a lot to process, nevermind at 6:30 in the morning! I would have preferred to answer with the obvious or vague responses like financially, to be a good mom, etc... But I persevered and came up with a rather lengthy, emotional list of struggles. Everything from medical/health issues in my family to being a good steward of my time.

Don't be discouraged as you think of your own struggles! And I do encourage you to actually write out your list. There was a point behind this potent question. 

"Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult - once we truly understand and accept it - then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters."

M. Scott Peck

My struggles are small compared to the God I serve who waits for me in glory. 

In the meantime He uses the struggles to shape and mold me into His image. The continual refining fire. 

God also uses these struggles to remind me how powerful He is. He blesses my family and me through our struggles. Many times He has blessed us in the midst of struggle. We then acknowledge how good He is to provide for our every need.

My struggles are also used to encourage others as I share my testimony with those I meet. 

Just recently I've met Mom's who are dealing with children who have the same health issues as my little B. I'm able to share research, doctor recommendations, and most of all encouragement with them.

If I had never endured the struggles I have, I wouldn't be the person I am. 

Now that is a reason to rejoice in struggles!

 

I'll Call You Later, 'K?

My mom used to have this sign that read "Call your mother. She worries." As I kid I probably didn't really comprehend the meaning behind those words. But I'm beginning to now.

My mom talks to her mom on a regular basis. I mean how could you forget when you have a sign in your kitchen to remind you?! My mom and I talk on a regular basis. We were just joking the other day that it's a good thing the phone company doesn't send you a detailed list of all your calls for the month like they used to! I've been out of her house for over five years now. I for the most part have adjusted to this set up. I'm sure it's still strange to her though. Not that she's told me but I think it's a safe assumption :) I mean I am her favorite oldest daughter!

I've always tried to parent in the moment and enjoy every minute with my kids. Yes, even the not so easy ones. I try to remember to always kiss them before parting ways (even for short periods of time), I tell them I love them a lot, I almost always kiss them when buckling them into their car seats, and try to remember what they look like at the end of each day (Lord, knows they're going to grow overnight). You see, I think I realize that no matter how much time I get with them, it will never, ever be enough. 

Then I had a "moment".  This morning A was engaged in imaginary play, something I find absolutely adorable, typically hilarious, and sometimes eerily familiar to my own habits. She loads up her stroller and backpack. Places her sunglasses and high heels on. (Ok, so I don't wear high heels to run errands but she's obviously more stylish) She then announces she's leaving, she'll call me later, 'k? In that moment I realized one day she will leave our house in one way or another and she'll call me later, so I don't worry (too much).

Milestones All Around

What day here at our house! We've had milestones for almost everyone!! 

Last night for the first time B managed to pull himself up onto his knees while holding on to the edge of a chair. Way to go man!

This morning A was showing me something and began to count them. 1-2-3...all the way to 10! I was so surprised asked her to do it again. And she did! She also did it a third time! She's very enthusiastic about saying the number 1o. She's very proud of herself and so am I!

And I'm assuming at this point my hubby will be home from work before midnight :) If he is it will be the most work in one day that any one has every done for the company!

Mess at the McLaughlin's

Ok, this one's for all you who think I'm a good housekeeper.

In the time it took Daniel and I to have a sixty second phone conversation A managed to get the five gallon container of oatmeal out of the pantry and all over the kitchen. Then, bless her heart, she started to help clean it up. However, it was mostly beyond her cleaning capabilities. After a bit I said "A, Why don't you feed the dog. That would be a big help to Momma." She bounded off after the dog food.  She successful put the food and water in the bowl.  Then she accidentally knocked the whole thing over. So, we now had oatmeal on one side of the kitchen floor and wet dog food on the other. 

A gets a gold star for her effort :) How could you be frustrated with that?!

By the way A tried to scoop up the dog food mess into the bowl with her bare hands. I explained to her that the dog wouldn't care and would eat it off the floor. She was excited by this. 

Unfortunately, you can't see the oatmeal on the floor very well. There's some on the table too.

Quote For The Day

I am too blessed to be stressed and too anointed to be disappointed. 

I loved this quote as soon as I read it. How are you blessed and anointed?

I've struggled recently with remaining stress free (Most days I have a 3,2,1 and newborn in the house). Now I try to catch myself stressing, say a prayer, and redirect my thoughts to the blessings in my life. This helps to calm myself and put my stresses and worries in perspective. Why should I be stressed when I am so blessed and anointed by a Great God?

My hubby showed me some love by having these flowers delivered :) Thanks Babe!

Because God Sees

The invisible Mom

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more:

Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a

human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?'

I' m a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is

the Disney Channel?'

I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once

held books and the eyes that studied history and the

mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had

disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be

seen again. She's going, she's going, and she's

gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner,

celebrating the return of a friend from England.

Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and

she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed

in. I was sitting there, looking around at the

others all put together so well. It was hard not to

compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at

my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could

find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled

up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could d actually

smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty

pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully

wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It

was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't

exactly sure why she'd given it to me

until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with

admiration for the greatness of what you are building

when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour the

book. And I would discover what would become for me,

four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern

my work: No one can say who built the great

cathedrals - we have no record of their names.

These builders gave their whole lives for a work they

would never see finished. They made great sacrifices

and expected no credit. The passion of their building

was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw

everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man

who came to visit the cathedral while it was being

built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the

inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man,

'Why are you spending so much time carving that

bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No

one will ever see it.' And the workman replied,

'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall

into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering

to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you

make every day, even when no one around you does. No

act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on,

no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice

and smile over.

“You are building a great cathedral, but you can't

see right now what it will become.' At times, my

invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a

disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure

for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the

antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the

right perspective when I see myself as a great

builder. As one of the people who show up at a job

that they will never see finished, to work on

something that their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that

no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime

because there are so few people willing to sacrifice

to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son

to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for

Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and

bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes

a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens

for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or

a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come

home. And then, if there is anything more to say to

his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We

cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day,

it is very possible that the world will marvel, not

only at what we have built, but at the beauty that

has been added to the world by the sacrifices of

invisible women.