Bad day mama? Look for new mercies!
I am fully convinced that the Lord knew what He was doing when He chose only 24 hours for each day. Any longer and I am pretty sure we’d all be a little loco, especially moms! When my oldest three boys were little, I remember many days where NOTHING seemed to go right. Days where bedtime couldn’t come soon enough!
Flooded laundry rooms, cars that wouldn’t start, clogged drains, cranky kids and dogs running ALL OVER the neighborhood having a grand old time while my panic level went through the roof. Emergency funds being quickly depleted, medical bills rising, mess after MESS and the constant feeling of overwhelm. It seemed like ‘bad days’ were a natural part of this mom-gig and I felt like I was drowning in them.
New Mercies…
Still… something would happen when I would lay my weary head down at night, say a meek, “Help me, Lord” prayer as I nodded off to sleep: I’d wake up the next morning a little less tired, a little less stressed and a little more renewed.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
I may have been a total wreck the day before, but God’s gentle voice would nudge me out of bed and infuse some strength into my bones and I’d be able to face another day. I might have felt like I was going to break from one more mess the day before, but now, a ‘new mercy’ presents itself in the form of an idea to organize that pile of shoes by the door and my heart is encouraged that, “Hey, maybe I CAN do this whole keeping-house thing!” The sibling bickering that was wearing on my last nerve yesterday… today, I chose to pray for those boys and talk them through some solutions that will help avoid the argument next time. The silent punching bag I had made myself into yesterday, God gently reminds me that I was maybe a little too hard on myself and was expecting a little too much. New mercies! I surely need them every day!
New Mercies bring New Chances, like Clockwork.
The fascinating thing about these 24-hour days is that they are on repeat and we get a NEW chance every day. New mercies bring new chances, like clockwork. You know what else I notice about them?
That plumbing problem that hijacked 4 hours of my day yesterday didn’t seem so horrible this morning. We’ve been through much worse and the Lord has always brought us through.
The crying, argumentative, over-tired children that I tucked into bed last night seem rather sweet, cuddly and adorable this morning. We all just needed some extra loving and rest. Today, I’ll do better.
That end-of-the-world, everything-is-awful-and-I-can’t-do-this-anymore feeling that was pummeling me just the other day has passed and now, I kind of think I can do this adulting thing again. I just need to keep the perspective that not everything is on ME.
I’ve got a Helper who is always with me. And so do you.
His mercies really are new everyday mama. Today is a whole new set of 24-hours, a clean slate, a gift. A gift to do better, to act better, to think better, to love better, to have a better perspective and maybe just a little patience and a little leaning on the Lord to hold us over for the next 24-hours to come. Every morning is a gift to look for (& FIND!) His tender mercies. Just breathe and wait, the next round of hours is coming and so are His gifts!
I am so thankful for all those new mercies!
Ruth recently posted…Do you enjoy Rest?
Me too Ruth, me too!
This is awesome. Definitely grateful for new mercies and clean slates!
Brittany recently posted…When the Puzzle Pieces Do Not Fit
Yes Brittany! Me too, me too!