Dirty dishes in the stove :)

Yesterday this thought crossed my mind, "We are competing against people who don't even know they're in a competition with us".  Is this true in your life??? I think if we are all honest in some ways it is true.  Take for instance, a blog post a friend shared on face book.  I don't know the person who wrote it, but what she said reminded me of this thought.  She was writing her "mom confession".  She told how she has a couple of kids who are hard to put to bed and how she sits in the floor between their rooms until they fall asleep.  She confessed that she feeds them boxed macaroni and cheese and doesn't buy organic apples.  I got the feeling she was comparing herself to others, who I suppose have children who are easy to put to bed, always make homemade food and buy organic???  I'm not criticizing her, far from it ... I am wondering WHY we women feel the need to compete??? I don't know where it is written that we MUST have a perfect "Southern Living" home, buy only organic food and have perfect children.  We all know that isn't happening anyway.  This is the real world.  Women, wives, mothers, young ladies ... stop competing against people who don't even know you're in a competition with them.  Be the best YOU, that you can be.  I think striving for a clean house, healthy meals and respectful children is a must, but don't beat yourself up about it.  Life is taken one day at a time.  Do the best you can today.  Tomorrow, do better.  Prayer is a major part of my life.  If I didn't have the Lord to talk to and His word to read, I'd be a basket case.  The absolute best thing you can do for your husband and children is to pray for them.  Listen to them.  Be there. Sometimes the dishwasher is full, the sink is full and the counter is full of dirty dishes ( that happened to me yesterday).  I was out all morning cleaning for a friend of mine and left my house to clean up later.  Well as soon as I got in I found out someone was coming by unexpected.  I panicked, I didn't want her to see my kitchen in that big mess. So, do you know what I did??? I moved the rack in my oven to the lowest level and I shoved all of my dirty dishes in there.  Shazam!! My kitchen looked great !!! True story.  Why did I do that?  Did I need to make this lady feel like I had it all together?? I guess so.  Funny thing is she didn't even come in to my kitchen. Laugh out loud now.  I did. 

My point is this;  magazines and movies are where things are "staged" to look "perfect".  Real life doesn't always look that way, BUT it doesn't make it any less special.  So enjoy your life right where you are.  Stop competing with  people who don't even know they're in a competition with you. Live the life you were given, then you and your family will truly win.  They will win a wife and mom who realizes what is truly important and that is time spent with family.  Make a mess in that kitchen ... who cares if you don't know how to roll out homemade dough for cookies; I don't either.  Buy a bag mix and make some memories.  Leave your Christmas wrap and bows all over the floor and teach your kids how to wrap gifts (let them in on the fun and experience) it's ok if the tape is to long or crooked or if the bow doesn't match. Life is short.  Time is fleeting.  Come on, live a little and stress less.

Jesus said, ""Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need."1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

"He who gives attention to the word will find good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD."
Proverbs 16:20

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you are also being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."
Ephesians 2:19-22


 Merry Christmas my friends :) Go be a blessing.