Today was a battle for me to keep my perspective clear, focused, and my attitude joyful. Today I didn’t want to be at home doing laundry, cleaning house, feeding kids, changing diapers, or even doing home school with the kids. Today I struggled with an ugly sin called selfishness.

For any of you who know me well, you know that the thing I LOVE most to do with my husband is build. Ever since we have been married Isaac and I have been doing one project after another together. We never lack for interesting things to talk about and we are constantly challenged to have to grow both personally and spiritually. It’s what keeps our marriage ALIVE and THRIVING. If God is the heart of our marriage, I would say growing together (reading, dreaming, pursuing new adventures, building (businesses, vineyards, or ministries, a family) is the blood.

I found this journal entry from last year sometime & wanted to share it with you…

“So today and tomorrow my husband is away at a seminar, not just any seminar… a CVI seminar. One I was REALLY hoping I could to with him, but it just didn’t seem responsible for me to leave the kids, especially right upon coming home from an 11 day vacation to California. We have so much to get caught back up on, and on, and on. So here I am, desiring to be learning with my husband and enjoying a intellectually stimulating weekend, trying hard not to be selfishly desiring to be there.

The reason I am sharing this with you is because it hit me today that, even when we have so many things to be thankful for, our selfishness leads us to believe there is something better out there, that what we have isn’t good enough.

We can become over-indulged and discontent. Today, because my sin was so clearly present in my mind, I won the battle that was racing in my mind. I was able to help my children with a joyful heart… I focused on being productive with them today so that we can meet our family end goal. To meet those goals will take consistency… especially on my part. I purposefully laughed and tickled and cuddled and did things we wouldn’t normally do today (fondant and rice krispy project mmmm) in addition to doing chores and school work…all to show them how much I love being their mom.

I had to be purposeful about it though, I knew I was in a war in my mind, wanting to pout, being jealous of my husband even. God allowed me to be challenged in this way to illuminate my selfishness. I am thankful his Son Jesus Christ died for the selfishness I was experiencing today.

May we as mom’s remember, as we sacrifice for our children and for their best interest, may we remember the great sacrifice God made for us when He sent His only son to die for our sins. May we not just be content, but be joyful and thankful for the blessings He has given us.  May we be Truly Thankful Everyday, not just on “Thanksgiving!

I’d love to hear your thoughts…

Blessings,

 Angie