The Heart of Gratitude

So, I was brainstorming last night about the ways in which I want to thematically link all my devotional posts while still giving the Holy Spirit room to talk. I do not what this blog series to be as sporadic as my 3 year olds mood swings, but I also know that any Christian writer worth their title gives all works and credit to the Divine Author. I prayed a bit and I did a little research. Then, I found this great article on The 3 Levels of Gratitude where they explain gratitude as this-

Thanksgiving Gratitude – This is when someone thinks about being grateful when they are reminded to do so, such as at Thanksgiving. Generally, individuals that are at this level only think about the gratitude for the very basic of things such as family, friends, job/business, car/home, pets and their chosen higher power. Beyond this basic list, they struggle to think of additional things for which to be grateful

Positive Gratitude – At this level, an individual is likely to feel and express gratitude on a regular, consistent basis -maybe even daily. They are able to see gratitude in a larger range of things such as a sunny day, a new opportunity, a hug or smile.  The Positive Gratituders are more observant and recognize all the good things that they have in their lives.

Positive Gratituders don’t need to be reminded to be grateful but generally do so consciously.

Higher Gratitude – Once a person reaches this level, they are able to be grateful for EVERYTHING in their lives. This level requires a person to be able to appreciate both the good and the perceived bad in any and every situation. A person at Higher Gratitude can be grateful for job loss, divorce, even loss of a loved one. Being able to connect with and see the aspects of any situation that one could be grateful for is what leads one to achieve Higher Gratitude.

This level of gratitude finds one feeling and expressing their gratitude from an almost subconscious place.  It is a natural and normal part of who they are.

So with that little bite to chew on, lets spend a few days diving in to practical ways to move from "Thanksgiving Gratitude" to "Positive Gratitude". If you are anything like me, it is really easy to commit to things at first. I love to volunteer and lend a hand when it is needed. But as time goes on, and life stuff happens I get bogged down by the things I have committed to. Sound familiar? Sometimes it is really hard to muster that daily "I am thankful day 12 of 27......" post for Facebook. Sometimes you want to drink the wine instead of cooking with it, shhh there is no judgment here. So, let's see what the bible says about gratitude;

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

Now lets break down those three levels really quickly. Level One- I like to think of as the Facebook level. Where our gratefulness is more surface level because we know we should be thankful. #soblessed, #youaremorethanastereotype #GodcravesmoreofyouthanwhatyoushowyourFBfriends Ok, forgive the hashtag pun, but there is a lot of truth in that last bit. What we show people on FB, Instagram, or via snapchat filter is exactly that, a FILTERED version of our real, messy, not very "pretty" lives. #2 Positive Gratitude is the heart switch between, I am grateful because I know I am blessed and "I am grateful because I realize every good and perfect thing in my life is a gift from above." The act of not just appreciating what we have been given, but stopping to praise the one who gave it to us.

Now, there are very few people I have ever known in my life who reach a level of gratitude like #3. Higher Gratitude is what I think of when I think of Paul and his praise to God despite his deplorable circumstances. Job is another bible hero of faith who comes to mind. My reality is that I am at a place in my life now where I can look at the bad and appreciate the lessons I learned and the path those ugly parts of life put me on, because they built me the foundation for the life I have now. I am grateful for the times I was pushed to my limits and I came out smiling, because my faith grew by miles in those dark times.

But, I also think we kind of live somewhere in this middle ground that is not mentioned in the article and I would like to call that land "Perspective Gratitude" that is the gratitude that comes with the wisdom of mistakes and hard lessons. Where we learn to truly appreciate the awesome fully encompassing love of Jesus because we know what it is like to be unlovable. There really is much wisdom that comes with age. So, what would life look like if "In Word, In Deed, Whatever you do, (you did) everything in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to Him"?? Would it be a little easier to forgive that hurt you are holding on to? Would it be a little easier to appreciate the beautiful blessings of your life, even if they left sticky fingerprints all over your clean house today? Would it be simpler to make choices because you know you need to choose the option that Glorifies God, over what seems tempting or "easy"? How do you think you model gratitude for you children? Do they hear you give thanks in the tough times or do they hear angry frustrated sighs because we lost our perspective? Food for thought as we dig our toes into gratitude and how our heart's focus affects the way our eyes view the world around us.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

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The Heart of Gratitude

Become what you Believe

November is HERE and just like that 2016 is making her grand exit and the holidays are about to barf on every isle of every store. But I like to keep it real, and really Thanksgiving is a season of thankfulness as we prepare our hearts for the magic of Advent. Over the next few weeks I'd like to help you busy mama's connect each day with a few of God's words that will encourage you, as my way of saying I'm THANKFUL for you. I am thankful that you are part of my tribe. I'm thankful that you are working hard, loving your kids, & still seeking God in the midst of the crazy. I promise to keep it short and sweet, just like a good Cuban coffee.

Today I would like to focus on Matthew 9:27-30 (full text at end of post if your bible isn't handy)

Becoming what you believe. This passage tells us the story of two blind men who follow Jesus home in hopes of pleading their case for healing. Jesus turns to them and asks "do you truly believe I can do these things? "They emphatically reply "yes Lord". Then Jesus laid his hands on their eyes and said "According to your faith let it be done to you." The Message translation says " You have become what you believed".

I am going to take a modern mommy play on this and say how many times a day do you "fake it till you make it" ? I usually don't have it all together. There is at least one stain on my shirt before I even leave the house for the day and most days I do not even try and hide it, albeit coffee, spit up, or rogue oatmeal. I am probably pretty tired from a night of nursing and from staying up later than I should have because I crave those quiet moments of non cartoon television and a hot cup of tea when all three babes are sleeping! Anyways, it's in those moments of morning rush that I sometimes lose the "us" in the middle. I have to step back and choose to set a tone for the day even if I have to fake it to make it! I turn on the smile, I switch up my tone with the kids and become that cheerleader who still lives inside me. I remind my kiddos that their emotions are a choice too, and each day we can choose to make it a great day or we can choose a sour day based on which emotion we let take the stage. This isn't just applicable for morning rush, this is modeling a lesson they will carry with them for life. It is the core of "becoming what you believe" and it is a elementary school child's practical introduction to Big Faith. That BIG Faith that will someday move "mountains" in their lives, heal their "blindness", and give them the strength to walk when they are "lame". So how can we better show our children examples of becoming what we believe? I challenge you this week to find one moment where you can flip that switch and rejoice in the chaos. Believe that you are creating a lasting legacy with your kids through your example of BIG Faith in little ways.

²⁷ As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
²⁸ When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
²⁹ Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; ³⁰ and their sight was restored.

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Become what you Believe

Our Storm part 1

Continuing with the last post and expanding on the "when your hands are too cut up to squeeze those lemons and make lemonade" I'd like to share a story. Nearly 6 years ago a miracle happened for us. We became parents after years of doctors telling me I would have a very hard time conceiving because of my PCOS. From the minute I found out I was pregnant I was sure it was a girl. I had wanted a baby for so long and the thought of bows and ruffle butt bloomers still makes my heart soar! Little girls are so fun! 

So this precious, miracle, baby girl arrives and for the first time in my life I experienced a love so overwhelming it just made me cry,  a lot. I was weeping for the hurts she would one day feel. My fears about being able to protect her and care for her the way she deserved. Like a bubbling brook the emotional shower kept sputtering from my eyeballs. Like any good girl would do,  I phoned a friend. But this friend is also the best mom ninja ever, she's my mommy. I told her how scared I was that I would mess up, fail this sweet innocent baby in some way, and how the need to protect her and keep her safe was just too intense to handle alone. My sweet mother laughed at me a little, and told me to stop, sleep, and pray. I have thought back at this moment several times over the past 5.75 years, I still don't know if it was Satan messing with me in the weakness of my postnatal hormone crash, or just the natural progression of oxytocin being released to cause a chemical meltdown in my brain.... but one thing is for sure my heart grew that day and I realized I could love deeper than I ever imagined and life would never be the same again.

Over the years Reagan has grown to be a very independent, creative and colorful little person. She has always been in a rush to grow up. She had 3 teeth at 3 months, she had a mouth full plus 2 year molars at her first birthday party. She could speak in full sentences shortly after that and tell elaborate stories. She would hide a screw driver under her pillow and disassemble electronic toys, down to the motherboard, and then  line up all the screws and pieces by size, during her nap times at  age 3. When we hid all the screwdrivers, she used a hair clip and took apart a bookshelf, then stacked the pieces back together in perfect balance. At bedtime I went to put a book back and the whole shelf fell apart.... there were no screws! I asked her where they were hidden and she showed me a drawer in her jewelry box filled with screws (again lined up by size) that had come from her Kidkraft kitchen, the bookshelf, and her bed! Inventive just doesn't even cover it.... and she was more than willing to show us how crafty she was with that hairclip. Over the years we moved a lot, like 4 times in 5 years. Not just homes, states. We also added her two younger brothers Dawson and Judah to our family circus and Reagan stayed a steady, loving, and nurturing big sister through it all, until our most recent move. I mentioned our "storm" in my first blog and to be more specific, the scariest part of that storm for me was the day our strong, steady girl was found gasping for air on her bedroom floor amidst a panic attack. She was sweating and grabbing at her throat, she kept shouting that the room had no air and she couldn't breathe. I picked her up in my arms and held her close and told her to listen to my breathing. I exaggerated my deep breaths to help her find a calm cadence. When she finally calmed down enough to tell me what had happened she was "upset" that when I was decorating her new room I put her paintings in a different location on her walls than where they had been before. I thought this was some sort of fluke, that she was just having a hard time adjusting. We gave her some space, filled our time with fun things to do and explore in Georgia, and continued plugging in to church in hopes that she would learn to love her new home. But, the panic attacks didn't stop. The meltdowns were debilitating and my super intelligent, smiley girl was buried beneath this sad, anxious shell. As a mama my heart was totally broken. It became obvious that we were not able to push through the sad wall at home and we needed some professional help.

The day Reagan and I went in to the pediatrician's office they asked her a lot of questions. I tried not to insert myself as much as possible and I just stood in the corner listening. Reagan couldn't sit still she was so anxious. She hopped back and forth across the colored tiles on the floor, only stepping on the green and purple ones. After a few minutes of watching her the doctor asked "why won't you step on the red, gray, or blue ones?" Reagan said "Because that would be wrong and I would die" like it was nothing. "Oh, interesting" said the doctor. She asked Reagan a few more questions and then she looked at me and said "Mom, Reagan, in my opinion, has OCD with anxiety. I want a full psych evaluation done on her and I am sending you all to a therapist".  Now, OCD on it's own is not something that scares me. My mother and my sister both have OCD, it is genetic like many other mental health issues and I honestly don't mind if we have to kiss three times, hug three times, give 3 high fives and bless each other's forehead with a cross every day before she gets out of the car. I don't mind that she has to sleep with the same pillowcase and blanket at night and she has had the same baby doll since she was one. OCD is something you can live with as long as those around you are patient, compassionate, and willing to bend a bit. But, the anxiety that has come with it is stealing my baby's joy and that I have a huge issue with. We are currently in the very messy process of getting her school to write up a formal IEP for how to work with Reagan in the classroom. I think it is silly that it even has come to this, but when you have a very rigid teacher and a child who needs a little extra understanding sometimes, and IEP provides accountability. Reagan is also in therapy once a week with a therapist who specializes in helping anxious kids. They do yoga together, draw, play with sand, and talk lots. If your child is struggling I can not emphasize enough how important it is to speak out and get help! It has been eight weeks since we started therapy and Reagan is doing so much better. We still have a long way to go, but she is learning tools now to help her manage her emotions that will carry over to much bigger emotional struggles in her teen and adult years. I also think it is extremely important that my child have a safe adult she can confide in who is not me or her dad. There is no threat of disappointing us or letting us down. She doesn't feel judged or like she is being graded when she talks to her therapist, she feels safe. That is exactly what she needs right now and if I need to be brought in on the loop her therapist and I email throughout the week. Thank you sweet Jesus for modern medicine, health insurance, and loving medical professionals who recognized my daughters need and acted. We did have a full psychological evaluation done which confirmed everything the pediatrician suspected and put Reagan in the anxiety range for medication. However, at this time we have chosen to battle her anxiety with therapy, yoga, and prayer. We will continue to re-evaluate as the days roll by, but we have been panic attack free for five weeks! God is good.

Now I am going to stop sharing about my daughter and speak to your hearts for a moment. Our lives are so messy. Part of me did not even want to share this story because that part of me that wants to protect my baby girl is still so incredibly strong! But, if there is even one little one out there struggling in a similar way I want to give that mama hope, and I want to assure you that there I a light at the end of the tunnel and it is OK if the problem is bigger than what you can handle at home! It shook my soul to watch my strong confidant daughter crumble the way that she did. It took me back to that night in the bathroom crying on the phone with my mother, telling her I never wanted my baby to hurt and I didn't know how to protect her from life. 24 year old me didn't know that the reason it felt so impossible is because it is! I can not keep her from hurt because we live in a broken, imperfect world."  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9. It is in our brokenness that God's light comes through the cracks and sustains us. God is working in Reagan and she is going to be fine, but it is not because of what I have done, it is because I was wise enough as her Mama to know we needed help from outside and ABOVE!  If you are feeling like you, or someone you love needs a little help from outside or above -reach out. If you have struggled with OCD or Anxiety share what worked for you below. I would love to hear some of your helpful hints. I think the hardest part about being a Mom sometimes is realizing you can't do it all on your own. You want to be super mom, you want the applause and the standing ovation for rocking the pinterest cupcakes, making sure everyone has their personalized lunches in their cute little backpacks. You stuff in the hand written notes, or cut the crusts off their favorite sandwich because you are a mom and we love all those little details that make our kids feel loved. I hope if nothing else, that after reading this blog you understand that if a time comes when you all do need to seek out mental health professionals it makes you SUPER mom for noticing and acting on your gut.

Building my strategy for praying for my children began with praying over my bible for a few days and choosing a scripture passage for each of my children. I chose one that fits where I see their strengths and struggles now and in the future. I printed off the scriptures for each child and hung them on their bedroom doors. Every night when I put them to bed, and every morning when I wake them I pray their verses over them. Reagan's is Philippians 4:6&7 " Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The first verse is very well known in most Christian circles and I want her to remember that when she is anxious that is when she should pray the most. But it is actually the second verse that I think has the most power. I claim that in Jesus name, Reagan will receive that peace from God that transcends understanding, anxiety, OCD, moving every 12-18 months, rigid teachers, mean kids.... EVERYTHING. Imagine if that verse stays posted on her door until we move again, that is another 600 times those words will be spoken into her life. It is deeper than just a prayer, it is modeling a life that seeks Christ. This is the battle her dad and I will be fighting for her until she is old enough to fight it herself. we are grateful that modern medicine gives us so many options, yet we know God put this very struggle in Reagans life for a reason and it keeps all 3 of us dependent on HIM to give us that deep peace that only the Holy Spirit can give.

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Our Storm part 1

Appreciating the Melody of The Rain

The out-pour of love and sweet stories since my first blog has been amazing! Thank you all for reading, for caring and for sharing! I want to get a little more real with my raw take on a very messy moment in Motherhood today, that moment when you know you are about to word vomit all over your messy, disrespectful, pretending to be def, children. (If you don't have a child who has played at least one of the cards above -well aren't you special. But for my house of minions at least 1 of 3 pulls a card from that deck daily). As moms we have the power to unite or divide our children with a few uttered words. There are so many cliche' phrases out there for handling stressful or the uninvited ugly in our lives. "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade", "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar", "God never gives us more than we can handle" (while that one holds truth it is an overused cliche'- I will dive into that more later), "When God closes a door He opens a window", "When the skies open up, dance in the rain"... and the list could go on for half of this page. But my chewy-bit for today is "What if you are just too darn tired to put your dancing shoes on?" What if you have a paper-cut and the making lemonade part just puts a pit in your stomach because you know it is going to sting! What if the vinegar in your life used to be a fine drinking wine that just soured from years of putting everyone else's needs before your own? Because friends, a relationship with Jesus is a NEED not a desire.

Yesterday I turned 30, and in an attempt to do some self reflection I think this lesson is the best one I have picked up along the way. There is no cliche' or pep talk that really gets you through the rough parts of life. If there was I would not only be taking it, but I would own stock! We can get so caught up in easy fixes and bandaids sometimes that we miss the purpose of the benefit of the struggle. There is a very "rough" period of motherhood; those moments between forty minutes in line at pick-up, third snack, and fifth poopy diaper change, when one child is screaming for homework help and you are removing the vacuum cleaner chord from your youngest child's mouth before he hurts himself, when the water on the stove boils over and no one else is there to help you juggle because your husband called to say he will late and you should just get them to bed without him. In those moments "just make lemonade" doesn't fly. Sure you could slap on a fake smile and push through the night bubbling with frustration under the surface, not really being your best self. You would survive and so would the kids. But what is the bigger picture? God doesn't make mistakes.... so this night was somehow choreographed for a purpose. It sucks, but, what can we learn? When all else fails and everyone is hungry/upset/tired/and semi-suicidal... you can still do it! This is a place where your resolve will be tested and Satan is going to try and get you to lose your temper and shout because you are tired and think someone needs to pull the plug on the day. Don't let Him win! I am far from perfect at this, but when I step back for 30 seconds and refocus I can usually come up with a better way to handle the massive simultaneous meltdowns. My solution usually involves closing the homework books, grabbing stools, blasting Pandora, and getting my kids involved in the meal making. Find something that works for your family. Take a walk outside. Have your kids each grab a sheet of paper and crumple it up screaming as loud as you can for 10 seconds, then toss the paper out and the "bad emotions" with it. Have a family dance party playlist and karaoke in the kitchen for a few minutes. Even my angriest child can't resist the pull of a Mom who is dancing like a giraffe in heels while singing into a spoon! I will say it again, do not let Satan win. See his meddling for what it is, trying to kick you when your guard is down. Use that moment to make a choice to unite your family and not divide it. To wrangle the emotions of your children and lift them up vs scattering them.

I am not saying you can get rid of the ugly. That some how using any of my above tools and hacks will make your afternoon's less stressful, your children more obedient or quiet, and your husband happier. Nope I absolutely can not go there, because I am keeping it real and raw. I can say that each time you find a way to connect with your children in a positive way that you are building an investment in your legacy with them. Long after they have left home, those ripping up frustrations and singing in to spoons moments are the ones they will cling to. You are also, in turn, modeling for them how to handle stress in a much better way. In a recent article by Focus on the Family Rob Jackson said this "One of the most overlooked aspects of parenting is that children learn more from what we do than from our words. Even before the culture and its legion of challenges reach our children, the culture of our home is apparent. It has been said that "children learn what they live."  They LEARN what they LIVE! Do you see how powerful that is? I tend to parent the way I was parented, and while I love and adore my parents, what worked for me doesn't always work for my kids. In fact, what works for my daughter rarely works for my son. Our journey with ADHD  led us to a behavioral psychologist who gave us some very sound advice on parenting styles. She said, "No matter what style of parent you are or how you discipline there are 5 basic rules every household should have. When these rules are posted where everyone can see, and everyone is expected to follow them then your children begin to see their behavior as a choice to follow the rules like everyone else or break them, instead of you as the parent having to play police officer all day dishing out warnings. So our 5 rules are:

Refocusing this post for a second, this is not a post about discipline, that is a topic deeper and wider than I care to dive into at the moment. Besides we just met, I am new at this, and you probably have to have at least a glass of wine in me before I have the courage to strut down that path. But this is a blog about connecting to our kids on a deeper level by modeling behavior in times when losing you poise and going all Xena is the more tempting solution. I am challenging you to be honest with your kids in a way you maybe haven't been before and say "You know I am feeling kinda frustrated right now and I bet you are too....lets decide together to change the way this day is going." By showing them that you feel just like they do and then modeling a healthy way to handle it you all are building your relationship and getting along better in the process! Tonight my blood pressure was tested as my three year old decided to throw his cast iron plane at my leg. The first time I assumed was an accident. The second time I realized he was trying to hit me and I gave him "the look". Then he slammed that plane into my foot and I let out quite the "OUCH". The baby cried, then my three year old cried...because he realized he had just made a very bad choice. Daddy whisked him up by one arm and sent him to his room. Then, I went to talk with him. I sat on the floor next to the sobbing mess and asked him "Did you know you were going to hurt Mommy when you threw that plane?" he said "yes". This is where the shift happens. My gut & the Texas in me wanted to say "Boy if you ever throw things at someone on purpose and hurt them I will make sure your bottom remembers that that is a mistake." But my newly focused heart, the one that understands my mess is just as sticky as my son's and we are all fingerpainting our way through life.... that me said "I bet you thought it would be funny to make mommy scream, but it wasn't funny was it? Hurting Mommy, actually breaks her heart a little bit, and I know you are not a boy who wants to hurt anyone. In this family we take care of each other. Show me how you take care of mommy." he wiped his little tears, stood up and kissed my foot where the ouchie was. Then I said "Show me how we take care of our toys". He grabbed his plane and flew it around my back and parked it on my head with a smile on his face. I said "That is so right, and when we take care of each other and we take care of our toys, that makes mommy's heart so full and happy". There is the connection! That moment, be it ever so brief, where he and I made a memory from something that was pretty sour. 

Life is always going to have sour moments. When my focus is clouded and I catch myself being upset at things like; Hurricane Matthew raining out my entire birthday weekend,making my kiddos stir crazy from being stuck inside, and clogging up freeways. (so selfish) I turn to verses like Romans 15:5 "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had". A Hurricane that wrecked homes, killed hundred in Haiti and flooded several states was not what I had planned for a birthday weekend as big as 3-0! But my family was safe and dry in a home with lights and water! This Hurricane gave us a chance to appreciate the melody of the rain as it bounced off our window panes and roof. I don't think we always have to find a silver lining. What you are struggling with may be way bigger than rainy weekends, hurricane woes, and a 3 year old with great airplane aim. Your heart might be heavy with the loss of a loved one, the break in a relationship, the stress of your financial stability. Whatever it is, GOD is bigger and you don't have to slap on a smile and fake it with Him. He doesn't expect you to make lemonade, spin straw into silk, or dance in the rain every time. Sometimes the lesson is obvious up front, other times we see it when we are a mile or so down the road, but the melody of the rain is something that resonates in our memories for ages. Do you remember a time when life really shook you up? Do you remember what it was that gave you a life line to pull yourself together again? These 5 rules, this idea of modeling strength to our kids in a way that makes us vulnerable and honest, that is creating a life line for them. Someday they will face things much bigger than whether or not to throw Dusty Crophopper at Mommy's foot and the legacy you built by trudging through the rain will be remembered. Those quiet moments when they learned that the same force of nature that left hundreds homeless can also create a beautiful melody on your rooftop. Life is full of ironic and hard situations, but with faith as your compass the navigation system will never be out of date. That is a legacy that connects not just our children to us, but Christians to each other! 

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Appreciating the Melody of The Rain