Perspective is Everything

A few years ago if you told me I'd be over the top ecstatic about having four hours to myself to CLEAN MY HOUSE I wouldn't have believed you.  Who wants to use her free time to CLEAN?  A busy mom of four, LOL.  When my husband told me last night that he wanted to take our boys to his work to show them off (how cute is he?) and to give me time to myself my mind immediately began whirling thinking about all I could accomplish here alone.

First thing first...I went to Starbucks for a Venti latte.  Yum.  I can't remember the last time I set foot inside a Starbucks.  The drive thru knows my car well, but it's been awhile since I've actually been inside of one.  It was the cheapest cup of coffee I've had in quite some time, because there weren't any small voices asking for scones and chocolate milk. 

Anyway, after my latte I came home, blared some country music (and I mean BLARED), and I got to work.  I don't think I've accomplished so much in four hours in YEARS.  It's amazing how fast I can work without little people needing me.  My husband is amazing, and I am so appreciative that he thinks of me and sacrifices on his day off to give me time to myself.  I do not take that man for granted.

The last thing I did in my alone time was jump into a hot, kid free shower.  Within ten minutes of Mike and the kids returning home I was spit up on twice and pooped on once.  Ah, life was back to normal.   My life is good.  I have an incredible husband who always puts me first.  I have four beautiful boys who make me smile a million times each day (spit up, poop and all!)  I have family and friends I cherish and who are there for me always.

It's easy to be happy in the good times.  Having a proper perspective of who Christ is and what He has done for me helps me have a proper perspective of who I am.  Like I said, my life is good, so it is easy to think that I am doing this whole mom thing right instead of remembering where my help and strength comes from.  What about the days when things are hard?  Is my life any less "good"?  Is Christ any less perfect?  It's important for me to remember who I am and how much I need the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

I love being a mom.  I love feeding, playing with, and caring for my little guys.  I love being a good wife and partner to my husband.  I take pride in keeping our house nice.  But if my identity is these things what happens to my self worth when chaos erupts?  Sometimes my kids misbehave in front of others; some days Mike and I don't see eye to eye.  There are times when my house is a wreck.  While it's important for me to be a good steward of all God has given me and to live my life worthy of His calling I can't let myself put my self worth on the line.  I am imperfect and weak.  Without Him I am no one and nothing.

Only with God am I able to carry out my role as a Proverbs 31 woman.  I need my daily dose of quiet time with Him in the morning.  I need His energy especially in the afternoon when the day starts to catch up with me.  I need His peace amidst the hectic pace of this world.  I need His forgiveness  when I stumble.  I need His patience when my kids just won't listen to me.  I need Him to be my shelter and rock as I'm watching my dear grandmother's health continue to decline.  I need His salvation to make me clean and worthy of being called His own.

I love this summation of what it means to be a Proverbs 31 woman.  I still strive to display these virtues, but having a proper perspective of Christ helps me to realize I don't have to do this alone.