Strength in Weakness

Silence. A rarity in our home. I'm soaking it in, for it visits briefly. For a 
moment I can hear things I normally wouldn't, the hum of my computer,
a bird singing in the distance (no doubt confused by this wacky Midwest 
weather), the roar of a jet engine thousands of feet above me, the rhythmic
breathing of my dreaming dog, and my own thoughts whirling what seems
at top notch speeds between my uneven ears. 


Taking the time to sit and think is something I don't do often enough. Today
I feel especially pensive. Am I bulldozing through life unaware of my 
surroundings and of my fellow life travelers? Am I being sensitive to those
very closest to me, tender-hearted towards my children and loving husband?
Am I the picture of the mother I envision for my children, the wife my honey
needs? 


We all traverse through times of feeling inadequate or less than ideal. The 
reality is we are inadequate. Harsh? Reality often is. The good news is it's
okay. It's okay to feel like we're not enough or good enough, but with that
self awareness understand we are more than enough when we allow 
Christ to live in and shine through us. By myself I may feel overwhelmed
and like a complete failure as a mother/homemaker, but when I surrender
my will and my plans to the Lord, Jesus Christ, trusting that He knows my
needs even better than I do, suddenly burdens fall from my weary shoulders. 
I find myself peaceful and content. 

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9 -10

So what do I take away from this? Know that being human means we will and 
do make mistakes. We struggle. We fail at times. Cut yourself some slack, ask
for forgiveness if needed, give those things to the Lord, and move on towards our
focus, Jesus Christ. True that we are to be immitators of Christ, striving to be
more like Him by walking in love with those around us, but I think too often
we try to do that on our own. What is love again? Love is patient and kind; does 
not envy or boast, doesn't insist on it's own way; it's not irritable or resentful; it
rejoices with the truth, not wrongdoing; it bears all things, hopes all things, 
believes all things, endures all thins. Love never ends. I Corinthians 13:4-8

Looking at that list of what love actually is makes me feel completely lacking,
but then I remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Phillipians 4:13  Today, if you feel inadequate, know that we all really are and
trust our Heavenly Father with your weaknesses. This is how we become the
women, wives, and mothers we've been called to be, with His strength, not
ours.