Calming Mama Drama
Oversleeping on picture day. Not a great way to start the day. I rushed to my two high school girl’s rooms, blurting out words of panic. At first there were groans, “Oh no! Not today!” Yet minutes later, from my kitchen below, I heard silliness and singing. Kindness was reigning in the lives of my girls…at least at the moment. They were choosing not to take out the stress they felt on each other and I, for one, was happy!
I have been challenged and corrected by the words of Ephesians 4:2 – 3 lately:
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (NIV)
I wish I could say that my girls learned how to handle stress this way from me, but I am afraid that wouldn’t be so. I struggle with mama drama.
When things don’t go exactly the way I expected, when my expectations are not met or when circumstances seem outside of my control, my heart and head so often want to spin out of control! Paul’s words of wisdom: to be humble, gentle, and patient seem to seep away as the flood of frustration pours in.
Jesus is teaching me to give myself a time out when this happens. The days of time outs for my own kids are well past us now, but I have begun to introduce them to myself! These time outs provide me with the chance to regroup my heart and mind; allowing the Holy Spirit the opportunity to speak and fill me with His truth. This is the best way for me to bring peace and serenity back into my heart.
Some days, though, there just isn’t time for the time out! On this less-than-picture-perfect morning, my turn to walk in humility, patience and gentleness came around way too fast! As the girls were walking out the door, I was scrambling to find forms, check book and pen! I failed to fill out the forms for those pictures! Yes, my girls kept the unity in our home under pressure, but would I?
Paul challenges me – challenges us – to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit. For me this means making every effort to diffuse drama, whether it is high school girl’s drama or our own mama drama! Drama seeks to steal our home’s peace.
Thankfully I can say I did give way to the Holy Spirit’s leading this time. My new mission is to allow peace to become the new norm and the leave the days of mama drama behind!
Jesus calls us to be the thermostats in our home, not thermometers. Ron Blue once put out this challenge as it pertains to money, but I think it also pertains to our homes. With the power of the Holy Spirit, we can set the temperature to humility, gentleness, peace and unity. We do this by displaying humility, gentleness, peace and unity.
Have you ever yelled at your kids, “Stop fighting!” I have! Not much of a model is it? But if we try calmly whispering, “Let’s stop fighting!” someone just may listen!
Lord, today help me to be the thermostat and not the thermometer – setting the dial to peace and kindness in your home today!
Friend, how can you set your thermostat to humility, gentleness, peace and unity today?