Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
II Corinthians 3:5-6
The dark shadows played upon the window of my bedroom, as the sun set over the mountains. The darkness seemed to match my mood. I remember this day clearly because I felt trapped and wondered if I would truly make it through the rest of the years of my children being at home.
One more move, teens in the house and a little girl who wanted to play with her beany babies, and a hormonal middle-aged mom made for catastrophe.
There were many such days through the journey of motherhood and the fingers pointed at my heart accused me of the inadequacies and failures in my life.
Today, I am writing all the sweet mamas who are in this place and feel alone—as though they are alone in their feelings of guilt.
Do you ever hate reading articles where the writer always seems positive and Pollyannish? (Why? Because it doesn’t seem to match the reality of your own life and experience and it feels saccharine and unreal?)
Do you feel guilty for yelling and becoming angry at your children too often?
Are you regularly immature in front of your children? In marriage, do you become easily frustrated and can’t resist fighting with your spouse that you know you should love?
Do you ever wonder if there is any turning back? If you have been such a failure that it will be impossible to redeem your situation or child or marriage?
Does sadness fill your soul because of a prodigal or rebellious, angry child and you think it was all your fault? [Read more...]
