Sunday, February 10, 2013

Sacrifice

After that cheesy photo shoot you know I have to write something to keep it real. I've had a difficult week with parenting and sickness and just plain yuckiness. This weather hasn't helped. Frankly, I've been selfish, and I've had a bad attitude. I haven't wanted to die to myself. I've wanted to live for myself and serve myself. 

Lucy and I were praying one afternoon for more joyful hearts (she shares the bad attitude gene with me) and I realized what a horrible influence I can be sometimes. I hope I don't royally screw my kids up. 

I came across this great post from the Desiring God blog. It's a humbling reminder that we are to die daily to ourselves as Christians and as mothers. For me, the little daily sacrifices can be a lot harder than the big ones. The big ones kind of come naturally. It's part of the choice of parenthood.

We sacrifice financially so that I can stay home during the week with the girls. I sacrifice time and activity so my kids can nap at home everyday and be well rested. I've sacrificed my body for pregnancies.

But the little sacrifices? The daily ones?

When I don't want to clean the kitchen again, when I don't want to pour another sippy cup of juice. When I don't want to change another diaper.

When I just want to Take. A. Nap.

When I get frustrated because I can't even take a shower without at least one child barging in on me and demanding something.

That's when I see my sin. My ugliness. And I realize I can't die daily to myself alone. I need His help and His grace, daily. Moment by moment.

"If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."
- Matthew 10:39, NLT 







1 comment:

claire @ a peachtree city life said...

sorry you guys have had a rough week. i've been feeling quite blah myself - the weather certainly doesn't help.

i think you summed this up so perfectly - the big things are easy to write off and give up, since you know about all that going in. but it's the little struggles like getting off the couch when you just sat down (again!) that are much harder to do willingly and with a happy heart..