Past. Present. Future....Being present in today.

So Stanley starts back to his little preschool today, and I find myself asking this question over the past day or so..."did I make the most of our summer together?"  It makes me sad to think of little Clara playing by herself this morning (although I won't miss the fights over toys!).  And, Clara is a big girl, and will be starting her little day school on Tuesday...so I find myself as a stay at home mom, feeling some relief, yeah! some time to myself.  But, the question continues to loom, "did I make the most of our summer together?"  I could keep asking that question all day, but then I wouldn't be present in the moments I have with Clara this morning, or in the moments with both after I pick Stanley up from school.  So today, I will claim the truth that as a mother, I had my moments, but overall, I think we had a full and very good summer.  We played, we stayed active, we enjoyed kid's activities all around Tupelo, we took many trips for vacation and to see family.  So, yes, I am choosing to believe the truth that we did make the most of our summer together!  Today, I will choose to capture this question that maybe could bring me down in thinking the opposite, and train myself to believe that I am the best Mommy for Stanley and Clara, and I'm doing the best that I can everyday.  Here's a blog by Holly Gerth at Incourage that I just read this morning, this touched me just where I was in my thoughts this morning and yesterday...

"We all hear it sometimes…the whisper in our hearts that says, “You really should be doing more.” It usually intrudes right into the middle of our ordinary. When we’re washing dishes. Or changing diapers. Or driving to work in the morning.

A wise friend of mine says that lie is a dangerous one because every time we tell ourselves we should be doing “more,” it leads to less…

Being less present where we are right now.

Less peace.

Less joy.

Less love for those who are right in front of us.

Can you trust that you’re where you’re supposed to be in this moment, doing what you’re supposed to be doing, and if that’s supposed to change then God will make that clear to you? Yes, be open to new possibilities. Learn. Grow. Take steps forward.

But say “no” to the lie that you must do more.

It’s simply not true.

So take a deep breath, lean into grace, and live fully where you are today…God is already taking care of tomorrow {and He’s the only one who can}."

So, another something that I have read last week that has been an encouragement for me is from the book by Beth Moore called "Get out of that Pit."  (great book for anyone who has or is struggling with sitting in the "pits" of our lives!)  One quote that I loved was when she was talking about how God delivers us from our pits if we place ourself in a place of obedience to be delivered, it's actually a verse I have read many times before, but it just hit me differently the way she talked about it!

"He HAS delivered us...he WILL deliver us.  On Him we have set our hope that he WILL CONTINUE to deliver us."  2 Corinthians 1:10

That just about covers it!  Past, present, and future.  I always love the active nature of a phrase like the one where it says he WILL CONTINUE to deliver us...that means he has taken care of the past, he will take care of the future, and He IS taking care of our today, the present moment we are living in.  Over and over again, he WILL CONTINUE to bring the deliverance, the grace, the peace, the joy, anything WHEN WE ARE OPEN TO RECEIVING.  To me, that's the key, so that's my goal in life, that's my goal today to remain open to receive the active work of Christ in my life to CONTINUE to deliver me from myself and the thoughts that loomed over me yesterday, and trust in His Grace that I have been, I will be, and for today, I am the best mommy that I can be for Stanley and Clara.  So that takes care of it, when I trust in those words, I believe that I can be present for today.

Someday soon, I will post pictures of these little kiddos from this summer, but it's been busy, so as soon as I take time to sift through all the pictures, there will be a post about our summer, until then, be present in the moments of your today.  As always, thanks for stopping!

Love, 

Kendra :)