Frustrating and Endearing.

Naptime. Reprieve! As I sat down at the computer and flicked my finger on the magic mouse to scroll mindlessly through Facebook for a mental break (like Facebook is ever a mental break),  I discovered a puffy star sticker planted right in the middle of the mouse, no doubt placed there by a creative (and, for that matter, sneaky) little toddler. Rather than remove it, I'm just kind of awkwardly navigating around it. For whatever reason.

It's like the flower picture I accidentally stepped on in my bathroom and the toy plane I rolled into when I crawled in bed (ow). All around me are constant reminders of our home's littlest inhabitants and the discovery of these reminders is both frustrating and endearing (and painful...case in point, the airplane).

Frustrating and endearing. Yes.

For as frustrating as one day can be (like my last post, for example), the next day can suddenly take a sharp upward swing that leaves you soaring with all of the wonderful feels, embracing the beautiful view that surrounds you: The snuggling of little heads against your shoulder and a home filled with the giggles of happy kids. Joy. The endearing things. The previous day that left you wounded and weepy and smelling lightly of countertop spray and onions fades into a muffled blur.

Motherhood is nothing if not redemptive.

It takes us to the end of our rope and as we cling to it, swaying in the proverbial storm of crazy children and sticky minivans and endless laundry, the winds can suddenly turn and the sun breaks through. It isn't the crazy goings-on that change, but rather the light that illuminates them. With that comes refreshing relief, and, a much-needed change in perspective.

How often I experience the beauty of grace and forgiveness in this role of "Mother".

"I do not understand the mystery of grace--only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us." -Anne Lamott

Grace finds me every day.

(Lydia just emerged from her room, holding a small balloon. After beckoning her back to bed, she remarked, "But I found a BALLOON!" Clearly, this trumps the need for sleep, right? A balloon?)

Grace finds me every day.

Grace for myself, grace for my kids. Grace for the dirty dishes.

After a rough day, the coming together and hugging and snuggling and forgetting the unkind words and forgiving what we forgot. Redemption. Experiencing God's endless love and grace for me in a humbling and tangible way.

Redemption.

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.

Oh, the power of living the life of One Who Is Redeemed. How would I act differently if I truly lived this way?

Oh yes ... grace. For myself. For my kids.

For the dirty dishes.

May grace find you today.

Have a lovely day, friends.