I don’t have it all together. There I said it.
My teenage daughter has taken to asking me if I have my keys before she will even close the door of my car, because I have locked the keys in the car more than one or two times. Before we leave to go somewhere she asks me if I have this or that object to make sure that I don’t forget it. Yeah I know, who’s the mom and who’s the kid? But we have a pretty good understanding between us. I appreciate her help.
This year I am seriously considering putting a Santa hat on the scarecrow for my outdoor Christmas decorations. LOL That’s because the scarecrow is still up and we’re already almost mid-December. And if somebody wants to laugh at me, I’ll just laugh with them.
Yesterday, after 4 months of physical therapy for my knee and lower back, I was able to go hiking in the woods for a couple of hours, and I wasn’t even tired! Exhilarated would describe it better! And that was after singing in our Christmas cantata at church without being in pain. Then, after our hike, my husband and I got ready and attended a Christmas concert. It is God that has brought me to this place; a few months ago I couldn’t have done all that.
But just because I had a wonderful day does not mean I have my act together. I just chose to do those fun things instead of the not-so-fun ones.
When I worked my first job as a records clerk in an insurance agency, my supervisor taught me a very important lesson.
She said that if I didn’t get all the work done, it would still be there tomorrow.
She was not advocating laziness but recognizing that you can work hard and still not get done. She knew that worrying about it overnight would not help things, and that there are only so many hours in a day. She recognized that you have to give yourself a break.
The laundry will still be there tomorrow. The dishes will, too. The things that need to be put away–yep, those too!
Wanting to have it all together was a part of my former perfectionist self. But God, in His grace, has changed me into a new person over a period of time.
I used to ask God to help me not to be so proud, because I recognized that pride was a problem in my life. God answered by sending me all kinds of humbling experiences.
Today I am less likely to ask that. When I struggle with pride, and I still do, I prefer to say, “I’m sorry,” and “I surrender.” I’ve found by experience that it is easier to humble myself than to be humbled.
So, if you are struggling this hectic season with feelings of inadequacy and overwhelm try these simple tips:
- Each morning when you wake up, ask God what He wants you to do that day.
- Then listen to His still, small voice in your heart, and obey.
- Write down the things He tells you to do if you’re afraid you’ll forget them.
- Go so far, even, as to ask Him in what order you should do the things He tells you to do.
- Don’t give yourself a guilt trip if God doesn’t tell you to do something you normally would have, or think you should have, done.
- Imagine yourself in the palm of his loving hand being carried by Him.
- Make him the Lord of your daily schedule.
- Decide only to care about what He says about you and not about what others say.
- Thank the Lord for His love, help and direction, and worship Him.
I pray that God’s grace and peace will be on you as you go through this Advent season. May He give you success in your endeavor to walk closer to Him.
Do you have any other suggestions on how to get through stressful seasons? Please share in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you! 🙂
Linking up with:
Faith on Fire, Faith ‘n Friends, Grace & Truth, Dance with Jesus, Spiritual Sundays
Chasing Community, Tune In Thursday, Heart Encouragement Thursday
I think you covered a lot of it. I try to take time out to spend with my kids uniterrupted. (I hate to say this doesn’t happen nearly as frequently as I would like,) When I do, though, I never regret it. They always find a way to refocus me, and so does my husband.
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Yes, you’re right, Brittany! There’s something special about loving, laughing,listening to and sharing moments with the special people in our lives that helps our spirit revive! Proper focus is so important! 🙂
Thanks for adding to the conversation!
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I LOVE your scarecrow!!! This is such a good reminder not only for this time of year but for ALL year. May we give it our best effort each day and know that the Lord is pleased. And your tinsel scarf so made me laugh. Your creativity and focus was perfect! {{my play on your word, “perfect”}} 🙂
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Hehehe! Hi Joanne! Thanks, and I’m glad to have made you laugh. As for “my” creativity, I don’t know – I like to think I was working under the direction of the Spirit and just using what I had on hand. I did buy the hat, though, for a buck at the dollar store. Have a happy, laughter-filled day in the Lord! 🙂
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Having it all together really is overrated, and I’m sad to see how many people are feeling guilty over not getting their Christmas decor together before Thanksgiving weekend has passed. God gave us the ability to feel guilt over our sins but it certainly isn’t a sin not to decorate for Christmas. Having said that, I DO love decorating my house for Christmas. This year though, we are packing everything up for a move and my house is pretty bare. In a way it is a relief. So uncluttered and still in my home. 🙂
Thank you for this post.
Patti
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Great points, Patti! This guilt and stress over decorations and just the right gift…where did that come from anyway? Who are we really trying to please? Why do we think those things are so important? I was wishing that some of the young folks would read this and let a burden fall off their backs and let out a sigh of relief.
As for your move, I wish you the best. I hope you can enjoy the stillness and find close communion with God during this time. Also, uncluttered is good! I’ve found that if I try to decorate around clutter, the decorations just seem to add more clutter. Sometimes less is more.
Merry Christmas! (a little bit early) 🙂
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I’m thankful to have a husband who speaks words to truth to me about the work that will wait for me while I do other things. It’s so easy to get into a tizzy trying to do EVERYTHING!
And I think your Christmas scarecrow is lovely!
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That’s a wise husband, Michele. And I hope your “tizzy” isn’t so great that you are unable to calm down when he speaks those helpful words! 🙂
And, thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed the scarecrow! 🙂
May the Lord bless you with peace as you celebrate the first coming of the Prince of Peace.
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So glad you’re feeling better, Ruth. 🙂 I think I might just like your Christmas scarecrow better than a lot of real christmas decorations. 🙂 I’m sure your neighbors appreciate the smile and the freedom it brings them, too. — “Make Him the Lord of your daily schedule.” Amen. Love that. Thank you for sharing today. ((hug))
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Thanks, Brenda! That’s sweet of you.
And, thanks for the opportunity to link up on your blog!
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I think your scarecrow makes a wonderful Christmas decoration! 🙂 I’m glad you’re building your strength back up and getting to enjoy more things again. It’s so hard to let go of perfectionism, but there is such happiness on the other side of it.
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Thank you, Lisa! And you’re right about letting go of perfectionism. It sets us free and brings us closer to peace and joy!
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This is good advice- and it’s so true that even when we work hard there is only so much we can do but the rest will still be there tomorrow. Letting go of perfection is definitely the way to freedom. And I love your scarecrow!
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Thank you, Lesley! Hope you’ve had a very Happy Christmas! 😊
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A wonderful list! When i tell God every morning, “Help yourself to my lift!” it helps. And I would always use that front yard decor for all seasons – be thinking of an Easter bonnet.
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to my life not lift – you can tell i’m not a perfectionist but I do have a ton of things on my list today!
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Haha, Sue! I wondered what you meant by “lift”! No worries, we all make mistakes. 😊
Good suggestion! And thanks for the idea for the scarecrow!
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So much truth here! I don’t have it all together either, but that’s okay. God is still good. His glory doesn’t depend on me and I can still point to Him in my failures.
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Hi, Heather! It’s a good thing His glory never depended on any of us! He is the only One who is perfect. And, since He is all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipresent, and not bound by time or space, He is the only One who always has it all together! 😊
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Ruth- I just shared on my Hospitality FB group page which you are welcome to join: welcomeheart, welcomehome – they will be blessed.
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Thanks so much for the share, Sue! I appreciate it so much! I’ll look up your Facebook page; thanks for the invite! 😊
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The Christmas scarecrow is AWESOME and made me smile! How sweet and what a great reminder for all of us. All is grace and may we not worry too much about what others think and enjoy this Christmas season and God’s greatest gift to us, Jesus. Wishing you a blessed Christmas!
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Thanks, Amy! I’m glad to have been a part of God giving you a smile!
Wishing you a blessed Christmas, as well! Grace and peace to you as Christmas approaches ever nearer. 🙂
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Love your Christmas scarecrow! So funny and so true. It’s all one big whirlwind from Halloween to New Years. I love it, but it so hard not to get caught up in the nonsense of some of the pressures we put on ourselves. I am so glad to see other women admit that they do not have it all together. We need more of that truth spread out there, sister. As hard as our Mamas and Grandmamas surely had it, I wonder if they didn’t give each other a little more of a break on the cuteness competition. They could only compete over the phone and in person, not via world wide web. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. I don’t need to see Cindy Lou’s perfect chocolate reindeer sculptures adorning her Victorian Gingerbread Christmas Village to know that I..just.. can’t. We have an advent calendar I made a few years ago that includes fun family activities with scriptures of the Christmas story for each day. I really did consider switching out a few activities this year from “family game night” and “make cookies for the neighbors” to “finish science fair projects” and “fold and put away your laundry” (while singing Christmas Carols!)
Thanks for keeping it real. His love and peace are enough. Merry Christmas!
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Yes, the Prince of Peace who loves us is enough for us. Too bad we’re so oblivious sometimes. We make life hard on ourselves trying to keep up with the Jones’s and the “perfect” Pinterest Penelopes. We need to know and remember that we are to strive only to please our Loving Lord. He already knows our weaknesses, and we don’t have to impress Him. He loves us unconditionally even though we don’t have our act together.
Merry Christmas, sister!
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