The following is the fourth edition of Mondays for Moms:
When messes turn into messages
I had some big plans for Saturday, y’all.
We’re talkin’ deep cleaning, closet ransacking, pantry purging and even some yard sprucing.
Well, I probably don’t need to tell you that those grand intentions got dashed real quick once the little ones involved themselves in my mom mission.
At one point, I stepped out of the playroom to grab a load of laundry and returned to this…
In the interest of being perfectly honest with you precious ladies, I had a temporary meltdown. Not verbally. It was more of an internal hellish shock moment.
In an attempt not to explode, I stepped outside of the room and quickly sorted out my options:
(1) I could burst back in there belting “Clean up time! Clean up time! CLEAN UP TIIIMMMEEE!”
Or
(2) I could breathe. And remind myself that while I’m making all kinds of grand plans, God is smirking just a bit. And it was in that moment that He reminded me to peek in at those little ones to give them a big dose of grace and stop and savor the moment.
My little ones were having the time of their lives. And, yes, at the expense of paint on the walls and their momma’s level of sanity, but, nevertheless they were building memories.
And I thought about how that transferred over to my life, too. Sometimes, some of my biggest messes (both literally and figuratively) in life created some of the greatest memories.
Why is it that we kill ourselves to perfect the façade?
Why do we struggle and juggle and attempt to balance every single thing at the expense of the most important things?
I do value a (somewhat) clean home.
But, I value well-rounded, content, God-loving, adventurous, happy family members more.
Kids are young. And innocent. And playful.
They make messes.
Life goes on.
Namaste…
But in all seriousness, I learned that God’s plans are always bigger and better than ours. Rather than dominating my to-do list this weekend, I spent extra time making memories with my little ones in a heap of Barbies and pretend play food.
And if I’m being honest, those moments were way cooler than anything I had on my silly agenda.
I did, of course, use this opportunity to reinforce proper cleanup techniques, but I reminded myself to never discourage the mess.
Because oftentimes, it’s there … deep in life’s messes, that God speaks to us in the most profound ways.
Erin Brown Hollis is Yellowhammer’s lifestyle contributor and host of Yellowhammer Podcast Network’s “Cheers to That” podcast. An author, speaker, lawyer, wife and mother of two, she invites you to grab a cup as she toasts the good in life, love and motherhood. Follow Erin on Instagram ErinBrownHollis or Twitter @ErinBrownHollis
