Bought at a price...

Today has been one of those days.  Well, maybe not one of THOSE days...  Actually the more I think about it, today was a pretty normal, run-of-the-mill kind of day.

peaceful moments punctuated with cries and whines.
                                         teachable hearts one moment, stubborn one's the next. 
                                                                                   calm and tranquility interrupted by chaos.

Life is a roller coaster - full of ups and downs.

During my peak of feeling overwhelmed today, I started to reach for my go-to coping mechanisms.  Any of you have those?  Sadly, chocolate and cookie dough balls were out of the question. {I'm in the middle of an elimination diet to determine exactly what foods are bothering my baby girl.  So dairy, wheat/gluten, eggs, chocolate and a few other things are off limits.}  Mindlessly surfing the Internet is my next escape...

As I slipped to the front room in an attempt to escape reality, I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit as He dropped a nugget from the Word into my heart.

"...you are not your own.  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

(I Corinthians 6:19b-20)

God reminded me that my life is not my own.  I've given it to Him.  And He's called me to be in the moment, doing what I'm supposed to be doing.  I am a mother to these four, called to embrace the glorious and messy job of raising them, showing them what it means to live in the world -but not of it and introducing them to Jesus.  At these times, I'm called to embrace the chaos and look to Him for peace.  So I turned back and thanked God for speaking to me and tackled the rest of my day.   The baby still fussed, boys bickered and my patience ran thin.  But God was faithful to continually draw me back, renewing my focus and resolve.  He showered me with his love so I could in turn love my children.  I'm so very thankful...