Thankful for imperfections

I have 5 kids.  A husband. A job. A home. All things I care for and keep in go mode. I feed them, cloth them, drive them, love them, argue with them, discipline them when needed.  I have a lot of responsibility. And I fail at something daily. Somedays we oversleep.  Most days the agenda for the 5th grader didn’t get signed.  I forget to sign permission slips.  We have a huge pile of unmatched socks and often steal socks from on another when we can’t find any clean ones!  Some nights I don’t cook dinner.  We eat leftovers or cereal.  Some days I never make it into the shower!  Sometimes I binge watch shows on Netflix!!

Some days I get tons of laundry washed, folded and put away. I go through drawers and closets of outgrown clothes.  I clean and scrub the kitchen.  I prepare menus for the week.  I cook dinner.  Sign all the things.  Organize things that need organization.  Donate  items someone else could use, want or wear.  Sell items on garage sale sites.  I feel like I have conquered the world on these days.

For all my short comings, I am thankful for grace. I am thankful for children who let things roll off their backs when I miss something.  Thankful for a husband who picks up my slack or helps me to tackle chores.

I ran into a fellow mom of 5 last night at the grocery store.  We decided we were okay with being okay moms.  We can’t do everything and be everywhere for everybody all of the time!  The ideas of perfection parenting went out the window the minute you are out numbered by your kids.  I adore Pinterest and all its party ideas and home decor, recipes and crafts. Once upon a time I strived to be a perfect Pinterest party mom.  But now, I am happy with just mediocre parties and dinners.  It lessens the stress.  It doesn’t make me a better mom to have everything perfect. In fact I am a better parent when I don’t stress myself out.  And quite frankly, do they even notice or care what their party decorations look like.  I have way more fun too, when I am not a bundle of nerves and stress.

I am thankful for God’s grace!  Thankful that I am completely undeserving of it, but am given it anyway!  I am thankful that in all my weakness and imperfection, God’s grace and mercy cover me!

I will hold my self to a standard of Grace not perfection!

2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so the power of Christ may rest upon me.” NIV