Slap Across the Face!

I have been meaning to sit down and write for several days. Just a busy momma like you guys! I have had in my head to share with you what happened on Friday morning. We got up and ready to go to school as normal. We were, for once, not running late. Which I might add that Will has started asking me, "Running late, momma?" I suppose that is becoming the norm around here! Anyway, I noticed that the book that Ty had left on the stairs had not been put up. Normally, that would not be that big of a deal, but since I had asked him twice the day before, it was an official big deal at this point. As I was talking to him about that, my 6 year old comes crying to me telling me she has to have a library book returned to school that day. I asked here what the book was and what would happen if she did not take it today and she proceded to explain that the teacher said if she did not bring it that day, she would have to pay for the book. She had somehow forgotten to tell me about this at an earlier date, because she has evidently had this book for quite some time. I want to point out that our 6 year old is what we call a drama queen. When you think of a child crying, you probably have a much prettier version than my sweet child. She usually adds some moans along with throwing herself down on the floor and possibly a scream if needed for a little more effect. Just in case that wasn't enough, now the 7 year old has lost her shoes. This is also a serious offense in our house because of how many times it has happened in the past. By this time, my sweet thoughts of my kiddos have flown out the window while driving to school. So I offer a 5 minute lecture on responsibility. I explain why we have to be responsible as well as how important it is in our household. Well to be honest, I covered so much in my lecture, I won't bore you with the details. So, as I am wrapping up this lovely speech, I felt the hand of God slap me across the face. Not literally. I remembered how it hasn't been that long ago in my walk as a Christian that I was completely not following through on my responsibility to read God's word and to keep my focus on Him. You have read my post about the babies and how my life just felt like agony when I was fighting God's plan for my life. I was so glad that I had to drop the kiddos off, because I suddenly felt so totally ashamed of myself. Here I am getting on to these kids about responsibility, basically telling them how terribly disappointed I am in them only to think that God was that disappointed in me and then some, I am sure. I wasn't upset that I had gotten on to the kids. I just knew that God was allowing things that my kids did to let me see my faults. Remember how I mentioned the verse before about taking the log out of my own eye before working on someone elses splinter? My job as a mom was to correct the kids in their mistakes, but how sweet was it that God gave me that revelation by using my kids. Anyway, going back to responsibility. I have totally seen a change in myself now that I am making time for God. I still have not disciplined myself to the point where I think I am spending enough time with Him in His word, but I sure am working on it. My focus is where it should be and I love learning how God wants to use me, mold me and transform me. I am here to encourage you not to be laid back in your responsibility to Christ. Study His word. The payoff will be beyond measure! John 6:27a "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." I pray that God will be with whoever is reading this to help them to be diligent in their study of Your precious Word! Lord, speak to their heart through the study of Your word and allow them to find time in their busy schedules as mommas. It is so easy to put off our spiritual walk and I pray that each and everyone reading will have their hunger renewed. We love you Lord Jesus. Amen.