I've been thinking a lot on a couple of different things that I'd just like to share with people.
1. Sometimes I think this blog should be "watch MEAGANgrow" in stead of "watch nathan grow" because I tend to use it for my ramblings occasionally. The older I get and the more kids I have and the harder life is the more I find myself relying on the Lord for help. I know that is probably how it supposed to work but I'm grateful that I'm having these opportunities to bring me to my knees. There are days where it's just so hard! and I don't know how to make it better and then out of the blue a thought will come to my mind that I have the power to change this situation. I can either make it harder by being stressed out, grumpy, or depressed, or I can choose to make the situation better by smiling (as HARD as it might be), and getting over it and looking for the positive. A lot of times we can't change the things that are happening to make us have a bad day but we sure can choose how we react to them! So how do we attempt to change our attitudes? Here's what has helped me: (I'm also doing this so I can remember what I've learned!)
1. Make the decision ahead of time! Don't wait until you're in the situation and struggling so hard to breath let alone smile. Think back to elementary school in your D.A.R.E. program where they taught you to practice saying no to drugs before you get offered them. Now think of a few times where you lose your cool or get overwhelmed easily and often. What triggers those situations? Now figure out how you want to react and practice it over and over in your head. It does help when the real situation comes!
2. For me we had/have to change the atmosphere in our home. My really good days last longer when I play uplifting or instrumental music in the background starting the moment I wake up. Then at breakfast we have family scriptures so we can actually read them with Daddy since he's not usually home later. It really starts the day off right.
3. I've put up all sorts of signs around my home. I saw someone else do this and I LOVED it and it really does help me A LOT! I just wrote simple notes on construction paper in big letters things like, "Is what you're doing right now inviting the Spirit of the Lord to be with you or is it chasing it away?" "Who did you serve today?" "Watch what you say, the angels are listening," and my favorite one, "Love is Spoken Here." I see these everywhere and they are such helpful reminders for me. The first one is by the TV :). The second one reminds me that serving isn't serving unless you have the right attitude, otherwise your just doing. As mothers of young children it's easy to forget that we are serving them in everything we do! The one about the angels helps control the gossip, and the last one helps me have kind words.
I'm definitely not perfect and I'm still working with these things but they really have helped me so much! I hope they might help someone else.
2. The other thing I've been thinking about lately is the Dugger family. I have completely fallen in love with this family!! They are the ones with the 18 and counting kids! I saw a blurb on the yesterday with news on their new grand baby and couldn't stop reading about them. We don't watch TV so I had no idea they had a TV show about them! I watched a few episodes on TLC.com. It was so inspiring! Their house is AMAZING! and they built it mostly themselves and it's totally payed off! They have such strong faith in Jesus Christ and they are just such good people!
As I'm watching this my first thought was, "wow! That would be so awesome to have 18 kids! What a blessing from the Lord!" Then my second thought immediately following was "girl are you nuts?! You have issues with 2!" But as I continued reading about them I learned that the mom is a real person too! She has good days and bad days but she also shared how centering her life around Christ makes it so much better, and how having so many kids keeps her on her knees a lot. But she makes it through and I'd say she's doing a great job!
Now I'm not saying I'm planning on having 18 kids but I am saying that watching her rely on the Lord has touched me and taught me to trust the Lord and let him lift you up and teach you how to go on no matter how many kids you have! :)
It helps me so much to know that other people have struggles just like I do and I gain strength from reading about how they make it through. I think we need to share more about how we're handling the situations given to us instead of just whining and getting through it. Anyways, my two cents for the day! :)
2 comments:
Wow! I have to say that this post almost brought me to tears! It's exactly what I need to hear. Thank you so much for that.
Those are some great thoughts, I love the signs you've posted throughout your house, they are great! I'm thinking about doing the same, I know that would be so helpful to me. THanks!
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