Bless this mess(age)!

Yesterday was one of those kind of days,

Momma friends you all know what I’m talking about...

My house was a disaster, I was arm deep in Clorox scrubbing anything that stood still in the bathrooms and I could hear my boys (ages 2 and 4) going stir crazy. To be honest, I felt right there with them.

I looked at the time and although it seemed like we had been up for 12 hours it was only 11 AM. Still an hour shy of lunch time.

I looked up and said

“It’s not even noon! Jesus... take the wheel!”🙏 

I then did something I wouldn’t typically do; With greasy hair, no makeup on, bleach stained sweatpants and an old sweatshirt on, I slipped on my dilapidated canvas shoes and grabbed my car keys.

I quickly told the boys we all needed to get out for a few minutes and we were heading to McDonalds. (The Drive-Thru clearly).

Walking outside to the car, we immediately noticed the cold, dreary, wet days that surrounded us lately had been exchanged for sunshine and 70 degree weather! (Insert: Angels singing 🙌)

As we drove to McDonalds we talked about how beautiful the weather was and how happy we were that the clouds had parted. I couldn’t let that observation go without noting something more significant to my boys.

I pulled in to a parking lot briefly and as I opened my sunroof I asked

“Boys, what do you see?” They excitedly replied “THE SUN!! THE SUN!!” ☀️. I then asked “If mommy opened the sunroof yesterday what would we have seen?” Again, without skipping a beat, one child immediately said “CLOUDS!” ☁️ And the other yelled “RAIN!” 🌧.

I explained to them that in our lives we will have days of clouds (darkness) and rain; things won’t go our way, we will become uncomfortable, nothing will seem bright; But the wonderful thing we are promised by the Lord is that the sun in our lives will shine bright again... before we even know it. I explained that God uses the rain for important reasons:

Without the rain the beautiful flowers would wither away, the strawberries wouldn’t be able to grow and we would never have puddles to jump in!

I finished by assuring them that God doesn’t bring storms to our lives without the promise of the sun and each storm is helping us in ways we don’t always see.

It was a simple but powerful reminder to me as well.

🔹Am I praying my way through the rain and clouds? 

🔹Am I trusting in him and having faith that sunshine is coming?

Instead of going to McDonalds we went straight to the park and Boy, were they surprised! We pulled in and after a few minutes of cheers and excitement from the boys we closed our eyes, bowed our heads and thanked Jesus for the beautiful day.

We also thanked him for the clouds and rain we had been dealing with lately, because that helped us appreciate the sunshine and warmth even more. We thanked him for the rain and allowing the flowers and plants to have water. 

(I may or may not have also prayed that I wouldn’t see anyone I knew at that park because my look clearly stated “hot mess express”. I did in fact see someone I knew. 🤦🏻‍♀️ God and his sense of humor...)

Today, I challenge you to allow your mess to become your message.

(Even if it’s as small as opening a sunroof.)

This is the day that the Lord has made!

💜XOXO💜,

Brittany

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28