Monday Madness

There was a time when my challenges and sense of accomplishments were very high. For example, finishing school without failing any grades, completing university, getting an interesting job, finding the perfect outfit for Saturday night, and getting up in the morning to make it to church on time ! oh the good old days ! oh how my challenges and achievements have changed ! Today,as I write to you, I sit here with a very high sense of accomplishment, as i successfully overcame my weekly challenge - i.e. Getting my son up in the morning and to school on time ! you are welcome to laugh with me, but i know all you fellow mum's out there know exactly what i am talking about. I don't think it gets easier with age, do you ? i remember my mum waking me when i was 17/18 years old to go to school, and it always took her at least a few good turns of coaxing before i was out of bed.

From getting my son to school on time to getting the meals ready before i have to pick him up,to getting the house in order and doing everything else that is required in-between, it really is enough to drive any woman mad. And I'm sure just like me, you must have wondered countless times, how on earth anybody can get through the day with all their chores completed, and have enough energy left in them to be kind, patient and even jovial by 8 pm ! But don't we manage even that ? yes, at the end of the day, before we fall in to bed at night, emphasis on fall, a thankful prayer is sent up to God that with His grace, we managed to get through the day chores all done, mind still in tact, house not burnt down, and family still alive.

(pause - chocolate brake for energy purposes- and back! )something that gets me through my day is knowing that i am not alone in my daily challenges. Knowing my struggles are not unique to me, but something that every woman faces everyday, helps me from slipping into unproductive self-pity. It also comforts and encourages me to know that I can indeed do all things through Jesus , who gives me strength. The kind that actually takes me beyond my limited human capacity, to be able to achieve more in my day than i though possible.It encourages me to know that I am indeed capable of more than i can imagine my self to be. And if this is a reality for me, dear girlfriend, it is indeed a very possible reality for you too. so if you're Mondays are half as mad as mine or even more so, be encouraged in knowing that firstly you are not alone in your struggles. There are countless fellow women out there right now facing the same challenges you and i face; secondly , you have all the strength and help you need, right there with you.So may you be encouraged and may your Mondays, no matter how mad they may be, never leave you discouraged or despondent! see you soon ! :)

The in-between time

Jesus is dead, lying cold behind a rock in His tomb. All His disciples have scattered; all of them feeling scared, alone, abandoned.All of them insecure about their future, now that their anchor, their compass, their direction, their leader is dead. He told them He would rise again on the third day, but the death they saw Him experience robbed them of all hope of a resurrection.So now they sit, pensive, deep in thought, full of heartache and uncertainty about their future.Some even going back to who they were before they met Jesus.This day, the in between day, is a very dark, uncertain day. A day that seems to last forever.

I feel like that today.I feel like that about being a good enough mother , a good enough wife, a good enough friend, a good enough person. The first few years of marriage and motherhood is undoubtedly tough. It is something none of us are born knowing, but something that we have to learn as we go.But that does not make the going easy or the feelings of inadequacy any less. I feel especially insecure about my mothering skills. There are times when i get so flustered, like this morning for instance, and i reprimand my son, and i see that it actually hurts him rather than reprimands him. I see him in the midst of my scolding, trying to get me to stop and reaching out to me to hold him instead and cuddle him and tell him that i love him. So i grab him in my arms, and hold him tight, and feel so much pain in knowing i have caused my son pain. It is at times like now, that i feel the most insecure about my abilities and even about God coming through for me to help me overcome the inadequacies in me.It is at times like these that i can relate to the disciples' pain and their sense of loss on so many levels. But just like the disciples had to , i know i have to wait too; and wait in hope. Because after all, Jesus did tell me that "He is alive, that He has conquered death and this world for me, and that despite the fact that i will indeed face trials, testings, tribulations and frustrations, i am to be of good courage and not give up hope.For He who is coming, will come and not tarry"; and when He does come, He will bring with Him clarity, wisdom, joy, peace and much more. So there is hope. Even in my darkest times of insecurity, there is hope. And that is why Christ is and has to always be my hope of glory. otherwise, i would not get to the other side where i see the resurrected Christ and where, just like for the disciples, i will make my call secure, and be empowered to do and be all that I can be- in this case, a good enough mum.

Thankful on Thursday!

              Thursday  the day before the crucifixion of Christ.The day where Jesus sat with His 12 closest friends and ate his last meal, knowing one of them there was going to betray Him. It's easy for us to scoff at this prodigal disciple. But how many of us have betrayed Our Lord to the world? We may not have betrayed Him to death on a cross, but how many of us continue to nail Him to that cross daily in the choices we make and the actions we take ? As a woman and a child of God, I can only think about how thankful I am that Jesus died for me when I was still a sinner and His enemy, and how truly grateful I am to Him that He didn't hold my sins against me, and never will. So i bask in that all forgiving embrace of my Lord, and thank Him everyday of my life that He died for me, that I may live for Him eternally ! May you have a blessed Good Friday and a triumphant Easter Sunday ! :) 


                   When I say that 'I am a Christian', I am not shouting that I am clean living;
                             I'm whispering, 'I was lost, but now I'm found and forgiven.'


                           When I say, 'I am a Christian', I don't speak of this with pride;
                             I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
                                      
                              When I say 'I am a Christian', I'm not trying to be strong;
                            I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
                                         
                                 When I say 'I am a Christian', I'm not bragging of success;
                                  I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
                                        
                                When I say 'I am a Christian', I'm not claiming to be perfect;
                                 My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I'm worth it.
                                         
                                When I say 'I am a Christian', I still feel the sting of pain;
                                   I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His Name.
                                         
                                   When I say 'I am a Christian', I'm not holier than thou,
                                 I'm just a simple sinner, who received God's grace somehow.
                                        

                                 

                         

                 

                                   


                                                     











                                                            '


 
 

pink sun blooming: YOU ARE

pink sun blooming: YOU ARE: As. you. are. Stronger than you know. More beautiful than you think. Worthier than you believe. More loved than you can ever imagine   Pass...

YOU ARE

As. you. are.
Stronger than you know.
More beautiful than you think.
Worthier than you believe.
More loved than you can ever imagine  
Passionate about making a difference.
Fiery when protecting those you love.
Learning. Growing. Not alone.
Warm. Giving. Generous.
Quirky. Sexy. Funny. Smart.
Flawed. Whole. Scared. Brave.
And so, so, so.much.more.