“Stop Comparing Your Behind-The- Scenes to Someone’s Highlight Reel”

This picture of my 4 beautiful kids for the “first” day of school happened on the 2nd day of school. It was one of my less than proud moments of a Mom to date. I set my expectations way up there and then were surprised when it didn’t go as planned. So shame on me for that one. It went a little like this……

The boys go to a different school than my daughter. She had been in school almost 2 weeks before them. Her first day of school went pretty easy. We went have breakfast, she let me take pictures and then off to school she went. Well, when it came to the day the boys started school I had it all planned in my head and was ready to start checking things off my list. I got up early for my bible study ( I should have processed that a little more that morning), I made breakfast, had the coffee waiting on them for when they came downstairs and the cute little signs with their grades ready to be picture perfect.

So I got them all up and that is when the fun started. I had asked them all the night before to make sure their uniforms were ready and all their school things were together. Before I know it, we are running out of time and things were missing. I was going around fussing Anyone and Everyone.. innocent or guilty. We spent almost a hour looking for a belt that my son had days before. Finally, I was so frustrated that I loaded them all up and decided that he would have to face his consequences for not following the school dress code. I could not have the others late because of his actions. I allowed this to mess my whole day up. I was aggravated and kept thinking about that picture I didn’t get.

The next morning still on the picture kick. Looking back now I can laugh but I was seriously a crazy person… I got them up earlier and made sure he had that belt that appeared. I forced them to smile and a few threats went along with that. As I was taking the pictures something in my spirit asked me’ why are you doing this”. I thought to myself that I needed a first day of school picture and they could at least do that for me without complaining. But then I just stopped myself and told them to load up. I didn’t get a good picture and at that moment it was OK…

Yes, I was mad that he was irresponsible and at the fact that if they would just have let me take the picture without the complaints it would have been done quicker . But after thinking , praying and praying more. I was so convicted. It really hit me that I was frustrated because first my morning did not play out as planned.. (well when you have 4 kids that is to be expected). Especially the first day of school! Frustration comes from unrealistic expectations. Another reason I was so convicted was because I was letting the enemy get in my head and put shame. ” What kind of Mom am I if my kid doesn’t have his stuff together ?.. especially the first day of school”. As those thoughts came into my head instead of resisting and speaking truth to myself . I did the complete opposite. I yelled, punished and fussed more at him. Then , the most conviction came from that perfect picture that I had to have. Well our life is not perfect so why do we feel the need to make it that way on a picture? Sometimes our eyes are closed to things, we are tired, we don’t have it all together and that is OK! If it is the memories that we truly want to capture, then we should create bad memories to capture them. I am so thankful for a loving God that gives me so much grace and is so sweet in correcting me when I am wrong.

Deuteronomy 4:9
                      Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.