...I had a day like that. And since details are either boring or too graphic, let's just say it ended with me ~ AGAIN ~ having to humble myself and ask for forgiveness. I hate that part! Not the asking of forgiveness, but that I have said something, or done something, that has caused pain and hurt to someone I love. How I wish I could go back and re-do those moments! I so need to learn the virtue of SELF-CONTROL! I wish I could audibly hear the voice of the Holy Spirit:
"Kathy! STEP AWAY FROM YOUR MOUTH!!!!"
Of course, I would have to obey, and do exactly that. Close the yap.
I feel like my children are going to exhaust their "seventy times seven" times that they need to forgive, all on me! Okay, I know that's grossly out of context, but most of you know what I mean.
Wouldn't it be nice to just post easy, five-ingredient recipes?
18 comments:
Cathy,
You are so funny and yet I understand your struggle. You are NOT alone!!!!:) (Oh BTW Lydia here)How I have also wished the floor could sometimes have a big wide door that would open and swallow me up! And then I also wish that all memory of "bad mommie" would be gone. You are not the only one my friend and sister in Christ. We all battle the flesh, and it rears it's ugly head all too often.I am so thankful to my God for His slowness to anger and His incredible patience and His new mercies, daily! I thank God for forgivng children who can love me as if I never blow it.PMS???? I am in menopause and it is like fighting PMS only on a daily basis. Maybe not that bad,;) but it is a battle. Memory loss, roller coaster emotions,hot flashes, less patience,heart palipitations, on and on. I pray you never, never have to go through the same things as I have with menopause. I don't want to focus on the negatives though. I am so blessed and have so much to be thankful for. All the goodness of God FAR outweighs the trials, even those caused BY me!:) NO really, even though we are all in process, God reminds me of the fact that anything "good" I do, is because HE enabled me. It is HIS strength I need and seek and by His grace I am here at all.It is all about HIM and thankfully no matter how much we do blow it, HE forgives us, and amazingly, so do our sweet children. The greatest thing is that we have the opportunity to go to them and ask forgiveness. I can't say I had that demonstarted in my family growing up. Isn't it wonderful that the children can see that we are all in this together and we are approachable because we aren't "perfect", they can see how to work through these things as well as watch our firm reliance upon our God and maker. They can learn from it. (Of course we hope they don't have to learn THIS way too often!:)
I often have to run to my "closet" and pray and refocus my heart, thoughts and feelings and then , try again. We all do!
God Bless you! Thank you for your honesty and sharing. You are doing a great job! Not perfect, (no one is), and yes we ALL have room for improvement and need to ask forgiveness, BUT we have Savior who listens, cares and does love us no matter what!
In Christ alone,
Lydia
PS Sorry this was so long.
Oh, Kathy. I have SO been there. My experience with emotional blow-ups led me to adopt one of my favorite mantras -- An Angry Wife & Mother's Silent Prayer:
"Lord, keep Your arm around my shoulder and Your hand over my mouth."
It ain't easy being human. :)
yes, it probably would be easier, but then all of us other moms with this would not be comforted that we are in the SAME boat! LOL
Christina
Kathy~
I am so with you. I have the PMS and the Pre-Menopause thing both going on. I agree with Kelsey! I had a horrible PMS migraine for the past two days on my weekend away with Brian. I still have it this morning in which I have to get moving~I teach SS this morning and have to sing a special in front of 4oo people with a blaring headache. Really I want to go back to bed!
I agree PMS is REALLY BAD~
Oh, how I needed to hear that I wasn't all alone in this boat. Thank you for being so "real", and thank you other women for your notes as well. There was one night this week that I totally gave in to the flesh (anger, frustration) and slammed dishes around in the sink as tears welled up in my eyes. So repentance came, a little slower than it should have, and I'm desperately seeking the Lord to get me through all this! (I also am trying some new herbs!!!) So thank you, thank you, thank you!
Linda in GA
Blessings to you dear one, I thank you for your transparency in this post-yes you have your hands full and what a life lesson for your children to see that you are quick to recognize you shortcomings and ask for forgiveness. Having little ones around tends to make us short-tempered often but His grace is greater still.
I forwarded your post on modesty to my daughters-but they do have a difficult time finding long skirts etc.
Have a blessed day.
Hugs, Noreen
Just leave the laundry and dishes, hire a maid for the day, gather up all the kids and come over and play. The kids will play outside for hours and hours in the snow finishing the igloo Gunnar started. I'll put on a couple pots of hot yummy soup. We can whip up some homemade rolls, sip on hot tea, put our feet up and get you through this together.
You are not only blessed but loved!
Hugs~ Cinnamon
Dearest Kathy,
Oh dear one...isn't it wonderful that you can go to your children and say: "forgive me my loved ones!" and you are forgiven!
That is exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ does with us. He knows the hard time you went through last week and He knows that you were hurting and that your emotions got the better of you.
But do not despair...remember what you have taught your children...
"Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything without weakening. Love never fails, never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end!"
1Corinthians 13:6-7
The Love of Christ encompasses it all! So this week - it is forgatten and now you are living in a new week. Do not focus on it, do not think about it...instead rejoice in your forgiveness both from your loving family and from your heavenly Father!
Maria
it is so hard to watch my mouth when my body is going crazy! I totally understand! now that I am recognizing the damage that PMS can do on my mood for the day, I am learning to watch it sooner and not let it get out of control. Otherwise before I realize it, I'm letting my body take control of the day and I've said and done things I wish I hadn't. we are all in this together and I love blogging for the purpose that we can all pat each other on the back in encouragement. God Bless!
I appreciate your honesty in your posts. Hormones can be very hard to keep under control at times. They seem to have a mind of their own that you cannot control. Forgiveness is a beautiful thing! Be glad that your children are learning that from a loving mother. :) God can give them grace to deal with the ups and downs of pms. They sure can learn from it. :)
I understand I do. Thank you for this. I too have said things that have hurt others this week. I could say being ill sent me there. I really need to control myself at all times. The mommy wife guilt now has me. We have such an amzing Lord to forgive and help us through to do better in him. Blessings Catherine
Okay, so... can I say, I UNDERSTAND! I GET THAT! I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN! Oops, maybe I just gave myself away huh? Well, as you know, I just had a day like that the other day. Buddy the Elf saved me... no not really... it was actually the clue I got when Jared sent me the print out of Buddy the Elf.
Sometimes it's just hard to keep it all together. BUT, the grand thing is that we KNOW we're being naughty. It would be worse if we were like that all the time and felt justified in it.
So praise God you know the difference. Right? :) See, there is always good to be found, even from being grumpy. (Playing the "glad game" here)
Love you.
Lynnette
PS BTW, I'm so glad you're not perfect. If you were, we wouldn't be able to be friends. ha!!!!
This is Kelsey's Mom. I don't have my own account so I often post comments through hers. Just in case anyone thinks Kelsey is going through meopause!:)I wanted to mention this due to the fact that someone posted a comment and mentioned "Kelsey's" post. Sorry for the confusion..;)
Warmly,
Lydia Hoppman
Hokey toot! Does this sound familiar? I think I have "foot in mouth" disease, and the only cure is to pay attention to when the Holy Spirit says "NO"! Shut yo' mouth, keep out de devil!
Oh, how often I have needed the Lord to clap His hand over my mouth! I blame it on "pregnant mouth" most of the time..saying it is because I cannot tolerate certain things when I am pregnant, but really that isn't a great excuse for a lack of self-control, now is it?
I ended up here after quite a rabbit trail! First to grab a button from my web designer..Abigail Kraft, then to your son's blog via her home page, then here after being intrigued as the mother who raised such a well-spoken young man. What a wonderful little corner of the internet you have here! I will be back!
Blessings,
Amy
dear sister
since i am now the "grandmother" and not the "mommie on the front lines" i have the luxury of "hindsight". i remember one day when i had "lost it" and been angry and un-Christlike in my words. i was devastated in my own heart and as i cried out to the LORD, He encouraged me to humble myself and repent ONCE AGAIN!! i said, "but, Lord, aren't i supposed to be the EXAMPLE of a righteous believer - an example for THEM to follow....and yet, i need to say 'i'm not altogether, i'm wrong?????' won't that "mess them up, too"?? the LORD assured me that they learned MUCH MORE from seeing me fail and being willing to humble myself before them and seek their forgiveness. THIS would give them MORE than all my seeming "perfection" as a role model. we want to "do it right" as Christian mothers - ok, do it right - seek Him - love them - be real - try hard - fail probably much - humble yourself and repent - and thus, give them the "tools" they will need to cope with their own lives and the challenges and failures that lie ahead. you are showing them HOW to be real Christians and real human beings with failings in this fallen world - how terrible it would be for them to think you "perfect" and yet, know themselves NOT to be...amen??
God bless you - you and your family are a joy and an encouragement - in REALITY - not in "pretend-land".
thank you for being so real and so open. it helps many, i know.
love
debylynne
I sure can relate!
Dear Mama,
You have a host of lovely friends ... I am so enjoying your words, and theirs. My daughter is teaching me so many good things.
For PMS and menopause and long and heavy times, you should really try magnesium. It is amazing. It also helps with the moods. Also, I haven't tried but just read another great article on natural progesterone. Possibly many of the symptoms for women are also due to thyroid imbalance. We regularly use kelp in our diet for a natural source of iodine.
I hope this helps. You are surrounded by prayers of blessing and held in the hand of the Father. In Peace, Michele
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