Well, we have officially been on break from school for one week. We have run the gamut of emotions: joy, happiness, frustration, crabbiness, and boredom. I get so excited for these breaks from school and all the time with family. I often forget that extra time with family doesn’t always look how I pictured it in my head. The past few days it seems like we have been living in time out. There is rude talk, fighting, and whining, and Peter and I have had to remind ourselves and each other that our family and home is our children’s practice field. They are not going to be perfect and behave perfectly all the time and it is our job to teach them what we expect of them. The process can be difficult and not look at all how I pictured our Christmas break to go.
The above picture is how our village looked after Christmas this year. Luckily, I have a talented husband that glued them all back together again! I feel like my soul sometimes looks like it’s been through the runner after Christmas as well. I think my attitude often needs adjusting and I need grace from God so that I can give it back to my children. I think I get very focused on my children’s behavior and how they are frustrating me and I often forget to think about why they might be acting that way.
I was driving my son to grab some pizza on the day after Christmas and he talked my ear off the whole way there and the whole way back. I realized in that moment that even though we are all home together, I am not putting in intentional time together with each child. With our 1 year old it is easy because she follows me around and begs for my attention all day long. I think I often let Peter interact with the older two because I get so busy with Nora. Our oldest daughter has been whining and talking unkind and it all came to a stop today when I got down on the floor with her and wrestled and tickled her. I didn’t hear anymore rude talk the rest of the night. She just wanted her mom’s attention.
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. John 15:4
We also need to be intentional with God. Jesus tells us to remain in him. When we are focused on him, our earthly problems seem to disappear. Just like Emily stopped talking unkindly when she got some attention, we also have better attitudes when we remain in God and get his attention lavished on us. He is not withholding his attention, we are running away from it.
Remaining in God is the best way to get our broken pieces glued back together. That is my wish for everyone this Christmas season. Let’s lean into God and let him make us feel whole.
