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 …
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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. =)
Yes – sweet redemption! Praise the Lord for that! 🙂
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
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 🙂
Love it, Jen!
Thanks, Angela. Thanks for reading!
Jen 🙂
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!
I’m so happy to hear that! 🙂 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 🙂
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!
Thanks, Rebekah. I’m glad to know I’m not alone in that battle!
Jen 🙂
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 🙂
I’m glad I’m not alone, either! 🙂 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 🙂
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.
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 🙂
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. 🙂
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(¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
Raising-Reagan.com
I appreciate your kind words, Lanaya. Thanks for visiting!
Jen 🙂
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.
Thank you, Lyli! I’m glad you stopped by, too.
Jen 🙂
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!
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! 🙂 I’m so thankful that children are quick to forgive!
Jen 🙂
Amazingly awesome post.
Thanks for the encouragement and for visiting today!
Jen 🙂
Most beautiful…hit home for so many of us!!
Thank you for visiting!
Jen 🙂
You really did capture the struggle beautifully! Thanks so much for sharing and thanks for stopping by my blog!
Tina @ Mommynificent
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 🙂
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!
Thanks for visiting!
Jen 🙂
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
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 🙂
nice pic! Thanks for sharing me a glimpse of parenthood! 🙂 Bless you..
Visiting you from the Happy Wives Club Link Up.
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?
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 🙂