On Chaos...

I thankfully have been extra nice to my home of very sweet people the last few days...

My number one goal in life outside of doing God's will has become to embrace the chaos each day offers.

Now, if I do not start my day off right with giving it to God, I am screwed anyways and this theory really doesn't work as well...

Recently, God graciously revealed the not so nice tone I was using with my children when they started speaking in this same tone to each other. Very humbling for those who have yet to experience this...

I looked at why I was speaking this way to these kind souls. Small things were catching me off guard and I was reacting to these things instead of expecting them to happen in a home full of people with different personalities.

So I am working diligently to try and embrace the chaos at the beginning of the day and I am finding myself responding differently to things that normally would set me off...

Now I am anticipating someone possibly spilling their drink or breaking their glass...

I am anticipating there being several temper tantrums and remind myself to give consequences instead of the same verbal reprimand day after day...

I am anticipating someone having an emotional breakdown and instead of discounting it as being tired, hungry or bored, I am trying to be more attentive to people's feelings...

I am anticipating a boo boo during the day and realizing the importance of stopping what I am doing and soothing until that particular person feels they are soothed and not when I think they should be soothed…

Some of my friends are very good at these things.

I started out pretty good, then the chaos of life that marriage and children bring crept in.

And in our home tragedy struck.

We have been in a tail spin since. Because of our suffering in some areas we are more sensitive to each other's needs but others we have graciously ignored from the heaviness of the grief.

So, for today, my conclusion to striving for balance and peace is to embrace the chaos each day offers...

On some occasions, anticipating the chaos has even brought humor at times and the ability to laugh at ourselves more often.

Thank God, God doesn't give up on teaching us like we tend to give up on ourselves or others at times...