When God's Peace comes in Chocolate Milk Flavor

Friday, April 17, 2015

Life at its bests can be quite messy. I’m slowly learning this lesson. For 6 years I have dreamed of a home that can be in the cover of a magazine but a constantly messy kitchen is what I can manage.
Don't get me wrong, I make an effort to clean (especially when people come to visit). It is the repetitious cleaning of big messes that makes me weary. Instead of complaining and journaling about it, I'm trying to embrace it. This morning, the kids spilled chocolate milk (again) but today, I didn't freak out or cuss under my breath. It took me 6 years but I embraced the mess. I guess, it helped that I was taking some time off to read my Bible when the mess was happening. To make matters more interesting, my youngest decided to potty train herself. Great!
I learned that when the peace of God rules my heart, everything around me benefits from it. I know kids will be kids and I can understand them better when the peace of God is ruling in my heart. I know for a fact that God wants me to be more peaceful. It is when the spilled chocolate milk hits the ground that God and my family knows how peaceful I really am. Yesterday I cussed under my breath, today I didn't (glory be to God!).

My spilled chocolate milk can be a nagging health situation for you. It can be your in-law problems. It can be a challenging co-worker. You can't get away from it but somehow, you need to navigate the issue until it changes.

Can you use more peace my friend? I certainly can. My primary source of peace is God and His Word which says: "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." Colossians 3:15 (NKJV)

Without a doubt, when my mind is fixed on God, any situation around me submits to God's perfect peace: "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You" Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV).

It also helps to talk to people who are passed this early childhood season. They tell me it's supposed to be messy. They tell me to find the joy in the sticky mess. They come and hang out with me in my sticky mess and love me well. For these wonderful mentors I am very thankful.

I don't know if I'm the only person who does not enjoy sticky mess but sees no way out, except for a peaceful mind filled with the goodness of God.

Have an amazing weekend my friend, I'm off to washing dishes :)