Thursday, February 19, 2015

What matters the most

A few weeks ago, I spent my Sunday night feeling discouraged.  Feeling overwhelmed.  I had tried to spend the day with my mom and nieces, and it really turned into me having time-outs with Max every 10 minutes.  He hits, he pinches, he slaps, etc. I can't figure out how to get his attention and teach him this is wrong.

I woke up still feeling foggy and annoyed.  Of all the things I am lazy about, I don't think parenting is one of them. I try so hard to do this right.  And lately I feel like I'm failing.  

When I got to work, I was going through my email.  Of all the sales (50% off rugs at World Market!) and other junk emails, I had one shining email from K-Love, with the subject "How to Remember What Matters Most".  It felt liberating to delete everything but that. 

As I read, I tried to really focus on the words and not just skim it.  It told the story of Mary giving birth to Jesus.  This line caught my attention so fiercly:

"Mary was called to be his mother—no more and no less. To nurture him, to feed and clothe him, to teach him all she knew of his heavenly Father."

If I do anything each day, it should be that: nurture Max, make sure he is clothed and fed, and teach him about all the good in the world.  I don't need to fill my days with unnecessary social outings.  I don't need to do something just to say I did it, or to post proof of it on Instagram.  

I need a constant reminder to simplify my days and that if Max goes to bed with a full heart and a full tummy, I'm doing exactly what I should be doing - no more and no less. 

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