THIS Is The Day The Lord Has Made

A Gift for Mom! 🤍

Content.

My mantra for 2017 is just one word: content.

Not present, not grateful–I try to practice those two already, every day.

No–this year the intention I realized I need to focus on most is contentment. Why? Because life is short, God’s blessings abound, and it is up to us to receive them gracefully in order to truly appreciate those gifts.

The season of motherhood I am in right now is tough. It is winter. We are struggling with new sleep issues. I am about to lose my very helpful husband to a whole lot more travel, after a glorious holiday month with him home, and I am already anxious. I have taxes and year-end and empty spaces to get leased all looming ahead these next few months as well, and I find myself stressing over my to-do list.

But my family, my amazing supportive family, loves me right through all of that. My husband helps however he can, whenever he can, and the days when he IS in town seem all the more precious. My sweet baby boy is darling and healthy, whether he sleeps through the night and naps perfectly or not. And his big brothers light up all of our worlds when they are with us!

I am making the choice to shine with God’s grace, even on days when I tend more toward anxiety than peace.

THIS is the day the Lord has made. It is our choice to rejoice, and be glad in it.

THIS DAY. Today. I learned from some great losses this year–painfully–that I may not have a tomorrow. I cannot squander away my today in worry or in stress or in anxiety or in regret or in if-only’s. None of us can.

I am choosing instead to celebrate small victories, like a toddler feeding himself an entire bowl of noodle-o’s with his spoon, All-By-Himself for the very first time; even though his night was rough and his nap nonexistent.

I choose a clean-enough house.

I choose to still sport last year’s maternity wardrobe, because it is so ridiculously comfortable, (and paid for!).

I choose to not beat myself up for going to bed at 9, or for missing my precious hour of writing or reading or whatever crazy inspiration I’m feeling that particular week because I am Just. Too. Tired.

I choose to be OK with seeing my friends less than I’d like to, because it is all I can fit into our crazy life right now.

I choose to enjoy my husband more while he’s home, and hold no grudge when he must be away.

I choose to be content. In everything. And oh, what a lovely privilege it is, to have that choice to make.

Cheers to 2017, my dear family, friends, and readers! And may you find contentment in your own beautiful lives this year as well!

This post was originally published at https://tiredmamaproject.com/

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Erika Wilson

Erika Wilson is a writer, artist, and author/illustrator of children's books living in Big Sky country, Montana. The only "she" in a family of six, she is never without inspiration for her writing or her artwork! You can find all of Erika's work and her blog at her website ErikaWilsonBooks.com.

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