And then reality hits. I find myself grumpy after being out of commission with a stomach bug. There is no time to sing carols because the kids have to do homework and attend rehearsals. And that "simple and easy" gift just took over four hours to complete. So much for my visions of organization and yuletide relaxation.
I'm sure most of us experience this disconnect between dreamy fantasy and harsh reality...no matter what the season. We picture marriage to be our happily ever, but then bills and jobs and responsibility tarnish the picture. We envision motherhood as snuggles and crafts and play, only to discover it's more about breaking up sibling rivalry, cleaning constant messes, and hoping you aren't messing up your children.
Maybe reality isn't the problem.
Maybe we are setting ourselves up for disappointment by focusing too much on a fairy tale.
I claim to use my Bible as my guidebook, so why don't I base my expectations on IT instead of what Hallmark movies and Pinterest promote? The Bible does not tell me that I have to be organized, keep a picture-perfect house, or bake the best cookies with my kids in matching aprons.
The Bible does tell me to submit to my husband, love my children, and teach them about God when I get up, when I sit down, when I leave, when I come home. Proverbs 31 also suggests that I should be trustworthy, industrious, and wise, among other things.
I claim to use my Bible as my guidebook, so why don't I base my expectations on IT instead of what Hallmark movies and Pinterest promote? The Bible does not tell me that I have to be organized, keep a picture-perfect house, or bake the best cookies with my kids in matching aprons.
The Bible does tell me to submit to my husband, love my children, and teach them about God when I get up, when I sit down, when I leave, when I come home. Proverbs 31 also suggests that I should be trustworthy, industrious, and wise, among other things.
So I need to simplify.
We all need to simplify. If we don't, the non-essentials promoted by our culture will crowd out what is truly important. Yet even this seemingly simple task can be overwhelming. Let's start with baby-steps.
Let's start by adjusting our expectations.
- What faulty expectations can I abandon so that I can truly appreciate the real life God has given me?
- What fairy tale ideas can I remove so they don't rob me of happiness with my living, breathing husband?
- What dreams of domestic perfection can I pitch so I can enjoy my whirlwind children?
Oh God, forgive us for not being happy with your many gifts because we are clinging to fantasies that can never exist!!
3 comments:
So true Carol!! I also love how you say we can take "baby steps." Sometimes we get so steeped in those fantasies that we need those "baby steps" taken one at a time, to find our way back.
Yes holding onto Gods truth instead of the world's reality! Basing our expectations on the Bible instead of the movies! So true!
I agree! It's hard sometimes, because we want the picture perfect memory, but life is more chaos than elegance, and we need to be okay with that.
Post a Comment