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Being Confident Of This

Grace for the work-in-progress woman

It Was Ugly (A Five Minute Friday)

July 6, 2013 by stultsmamaof4 37 Comments

Five Minute Friday: Beautiful

The day didn’t start out this way. We left for the beach with smiles on our faces, anticipation building with each mile that passed. We had our swimsuits on, our sand buckets packed, our snack sack filled. We were heading into what was sure to be a beautiful day.

But then it turned ugly.

There was a bee sting and disobedient children followed by a sudden realization that all was not well. Disappointment, frustration, harsh words, and fear all balled up into one, a wound ripped open in the midst of a beautiful day. It was the kind of deep wound that ruins any thought of fun or enjoyment. And the children were watching, and I felt stuck.

I didn’t want to go to the beach anymore. I didn’t want to spend another second within a five-foot radius of him. I wanted to admit defeat, to go home and sob in my bed, alone. I wanted to …

To read the rest, click here and follow me to the new home of this article.
It was Ugly, how an argument threatened to ruin a beautiful day, how to recover when you feel stuck,  hope for redemption of a bad day

 

 

Filed Under: Christianity, Parenting, Women of Faith Tagged With: Arguments, Beauty, Biblical truth, Comfort, Faith, family, Five Minute Friday, Happiness, How to overcome, Marriage, Motherhood, parenting, peace, prayer, Redemption

Comments

  1. Breanne :: This Vintage Moment says

    July 6, 2013 at 12:46

    Oh, you captured well the struggle of momming. Those battles, that seem to be the undoing of it all but then the sweet redemption. The beach is often a restoring place for us as well. =)

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 10, 2013 at 15:21

      Yes – sweet redemption! Praise the Lord for that! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  2. Sarah says

    July 6, 2013 at 12:58

    i love how you placed our struggle with the flesh and the heart of stone in the struggle with the desire to surrender to it, but instead you chose a different path of allowing and showing your children of God’s Grace…is sufficient for us all…thanks Sarah from FMF @ The Hope Journey

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 6, 2013 at 20:13

      Thank you, Sarah. It’s only by the Father’s grace that a different choice was made. I didn’t walk the path willingly at first, but His grace was (and IS) sufficient.
      Jen πŸ™‚

      Reply
  3. Angela Smith says

    July 6, 2013 at 13:28

    Love it, Jen!

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 6, 2013 at 20:14

      Thanks, Angela. Thanks for reading!
      Jen πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Dave 'n' Becky Kersey says

    July 6, 2013 at 15:38

    Just so you know, when l asked your 7 year old what his favorite part of the trip was, he said “the huge sandcastle we built” with a huge grin on his face! Way to recover! Way to make a right choice! Way to be a real live Christ-follower!

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 6, 2013 at 20:16

      I’m so happy to hear that! πŸ™‚ God is good, and I’m thankful that my anger and frustration didn’t ruin a good day of family fun. He rescues us even when there is part of us that doesn’t want to be rescued!
      Jen πŸ™‚

      Reply
  5. Rebekah says

    July 6, 2013 at 23:10

    This? This is beautiful. I know it’s hard – it’s ALL hard – sometimes: motherhood, being a wife, wanting to fight, biting your tongue in order to protect the kiddos. Sigh! But it is, it’s beautiful!

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 7, 2013 at 15:00

      Thanks, Rebekah. I’m glad to know I’m not alone in that battle!
      Jen πŸ™‚

      Reply
  6. Anna says

    July 7, 2013 at 11:18

    Found you from Five Minute Friday. This is all too familiar. The battle of the heart and choosing grace. Thank you for sharing! Thankful I’m not alone πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 7, 2013 at 15:03

      I’m glad I’m not alone, either! πŸ™‚ Isn’t that what the Enemy loves for us to believe – that these things are only difficult for us. The truth is that we all struggle. I’m so thankful for His grace and His ability to redeem even the most trying situations. Thanks for visiting!
      Jen πŸ™‚

      Reply
    • claygirlsings says

      July 10, 2013 at 08:00

      Anna, you are definitely not alone. I resonated with this post so well myself. Oh to keep choosing grace!

      Jen, thank you for sharing this hard, ugly thing. It touched something deep that needs softening. I’m here from FMF.

      Reply
      • stultsmamaof4 says

        July 10, 2013 at 09:29

        I’m so glad it spoke to you. It’s good to know that the Father can use something I’m not proud of – He redeems that situation yet again!
        Jen πŸ™‚

        Reply
  7. Lanaya says

    July 7, 2013 at 15:26

    It is definitely hard to be a mom at times, a daily struggle and you captured that beautifully.

    Thank you for linking to Raising Imperfection.
    Please come back Friday to see if you were featured. πŸ™‚

    €´¨)
    ΒΈ.β€’*Β΄
    (ΒΈΒ€ Lanaya | xoxo
    Raising-Reagan.com

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 7, 2013 at 17:02

      I appreciate your kind words, Lanaya. Thanks for visiting!
      Jen πŸ™‚

      Reply
  8. Lyli @ 3-D Lessons for Life says

    July 7, 2013 at 23:44

    I loved the beautiful graphic and Scripture that opened up your post. You expressed so beautifully how He will come into our weakness if we allow Him to.

    I am so glad I stopped by tonight.

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 8, 2013 at 07:46

      Thank you, Lyli! I’m glad you stopped by, too.
      Jen πŸ™‚

      Reply
  9. Laura Lee Groves says

    July 8, 2013 at 15:03

    You know, for me, it’s so often that desperate cry that does it — the recognition that I can’t do it without Him. He’s always listening for our cries, isn’t He? My guess is the kids will remember the beauty of that day and a mom who showed and lived grace.

    I’m your neighbor over at Michelle’s today. Great to “meet” you!

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 9, 2013 at 16:23

      It’s so true, Laura, that our perspective is not always their perspective. I had to really fight Satan’s lies that the day was ruined, and I’m so thankful the Lord kept me going even while I was still struggling in my mind. My mom told me that when she asked our middle child about that particular day, all he could think of was the giant sandcastle! πŸ™‚ I’m so thankful that children are quick to forgive!
      Jen πŸ™‚

      Reply
  10. shortybear says

    July 10, 2013 at 06:25

    Amazingly awesome post.

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 10, 2013 at 09:28

      Thanks for the encouragement and for visiting today!
      Jen πŸ™‚

      Reply
  11. Nannette and The Sweetheart says

    July 10, 2013 at 10:08

    Most beautiful…hit home for so many of us!!

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 11, 2013 at 01:56

      Thank you for visiting!
      Jen πŸ™‚

      Reply
  12. Tina says

    July 10, 2013 at 11:33

    You really did capture the struggle beautifully! Thanks so much for sharing and thanks for stopping by my blog!
    Tina @ Mommynificent

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 11, 2013 at 01:57

      Well, to be honest. revealing the struggle does not “feel” beautiful to me, but I’m amazed at the Father’s ability to make the ugly into things of beauty!
      Jen πŸ™‚

      Reply
  13. Lorretta @Dancing On The Dash says

    July 11, 2013 at 23:11

    Been here, done this and know it very, very well.. that grace that seems bitter when it has to be given–when we think that justice will taste better and yet we know it won’t. Beautiful indeed! Here from Jen’s place. Bless you!

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 12, 2013 at 08:00

      Thanks for visiting!
      Jen πŸ™‚

      Reply
  14. Mary @ Woman to Woman says

    July 12, 2013 at 18:29

    Jen, you’ve beautifully illustrated the ugly! You did the hard work of putting the lid on the flesh and walking in the character of Jesus. Well done!
    Blessings to you, my friend ~ Mary

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 13, 2013 at 00:14

      Thank you for the encouraging words, Mary! I’m so thankful for the Holy Spirit and for the promises of the Bible. Those two things spur me on to choose right even when part of me desires to embrace wrong. I only wish I could do right sooner instead of fighting it first, but that’s part of the “work in progress.”
      Jen πŸ™‚

      Reply
  15. Mai says

    July 15, 2013 at 10:21

    nice pic! Thanks for sharing me a glimpse of parenthood! πŸ™‚ Bless you..

    Visiting you from the Happy Wives Club Link Up.

    Reply
  16. Rhiannon says

    July 18, 2013 at 13:17

    Ahhh yes – the chaos. It’s so difficult to be graceful when you feel like freaking out. Excellent work praying, surrendering, letting it go and having a wonderful day. Who could ask for anything more than that?

    Reply
    • stultsmamaof4 says

      July 18, 2013 at 22:44

      It truly was only by God’s grace that I moved forward in that situation, but I’m so thankful, so thankful, that He redeemed that day for us. Thanks for visiting!
      Jen πŸ™‚

      Reply

Trackbacks

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    […] at, even if it’s ugly. Β Letting Him know how unfair it feels, how hurt I am, how afraid. Β Asking Him to bring light to the Enemy’s lies, lies about how it will never change, about how …Β They are Satan’s favorite lies. You’re trapped in this loveless marriage forever! […]

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Hi, I'm Jen: a work in progress. I'm imperfect - a mom of four, pastor's wife, discipler, and sinner saved only by grace. I like to sing, read, write, teach, and smile. I have a heart for encouraging women everywhere to understand God's limitless love for them and what His grace means for everyday living. Welcome! :) Read More…

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