God is so good and so faithful, and He always bends down to listen and not just that but He can read my thoughts!! (I already knew that lol) But seriously He cares soo much about the smallest detail of our lives that I'm still in awe of how much He loves us. Sometimes I'll just make a note to self in my thoughts about something to pray for later and God will answer that thought before I get around to my prayer time, it just make me feel special that with all He has to do and all the people in the world He is not too busy to know me and know my thoughts. (Matthew 6:8)
Lately I've been asking the Lord what's missing, why do I not feel like I'm not doing enough at the end of the day? Sometimes I would go to bed feeling like a horrible mom, that I don't have enough time for everyones needs. Why do I, at times, not feel the fulfillment and the close connection with my kiddos I think I should have? (I know I'm probably not the only one who occasionally feels like this.)
A lot of times God will speak to us through our children. I started noticing how one of my kids would always ask me to tickle and would just say, "mommy make me laugh" or "mommy laugh with me." I'm sometimes too serious of a person, I can't seem to relax until everything that needs to be done is done and in order but as we all know that rarely ever happens on a daily basis. I started realizing that I just need to be more available for them and actually take time to tickle and play. And then I clearly got the answer. It could be different for every person but for me it was that we need to laugh as a family. I believe Kevin Leman said something like this: "Make Home a fun place and value having fun at home while the children are young, so when they are older they look forward to coming home." What we do as a family is tickle and wrestle on the floor and usually daddy has someone hostage that the rest of us are trying to free! It's a lot of fun to play and chase the kids and hide in the dark but sometimes it takes a choice and commitment to do it regularly. It was good for me to hear the Lord clearly tell me that this is important for us and He enjoys seeing His children enjoy the life he's blessed us with. I've been working very hard on patience, self-control, gentleness and the others but haven't really realized that Joy is in the exact same list and is as equally important. From the last few weeks I noticed that when I am more joyful and relaxed I tend to be more loving, patient, kind and so on. If we live in the way God intended for us we will live to the fullest.
Galations 5:22-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
If your like me :) Learn to laugh, let God teach you and ask yourself, "what is my attitude on life? Only duty? Or do I enjoy life?" Order, rules and chores are very important but it's just as important to set aside time to enjoy your family and put effort into learning to laugh and have fun together!
Psalm 118:24
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.
I could always use some great ideas so feel free to share some fun things you do as a family. I would love to hear :)