Remember how Saturday I was thrilled that Big Sister wanted to wear panties and use the potty? Well, Sunday she kind of digressed. While she peed in the potty twice at church. She decided that once we got home, she’d start marking her territory. In case, ya know, she was a male cat. First she peed (right after I mopped!) in the dining room. She had on Elmo Panties. “I peed on Elmo!” We ran to the potty, I had her sit on the potty and reminded her, again, that when she feels like she’s about to pee pee, run to the potty and pull down her panties, sit, pee, etc. She gave me that infamous two year old look that you can’t really tell if she knows what I’m talking about or she’s just trying to agree so she can get her two M&M’s for peeing on the potty.

A little while later we’re playing hide-n-seek. She’s hiding in the pantry in the kitchen, I open the door and yell (in a probably too loud voice, “Gotcha!” She looked up at me like she was going to cry, then she smiled and said, “You scared my pee pee!” She peed in the floor. (Did I mention I had just mopped??)

A little while after that, we’re all sitting on the couch. J & Big Sister are playing, her in his lap, Little Sister in mine. J & I are talking about something and then J just stops. I look at Big Sister, “I peed on my daddy!” And then J laughs. Because, well, it is funny that she just peed on him. But it’s not supposed to be funny when she doesn’t pee in the potty.

While I was trying to watch some of Big Brother 9 before stories & prayers, she peed again. On the couch. Sorry to those of you who are coming over today for Bible Study. We did clean it up!

I’ve never met an adult who still went around peeing on people & the floor. So eventually, we’ll get the hang of this, right?

Now, I want to talk to you about something that been heavy on my heart as of late.

Yesterday’s sermon was just kickin’ me down, y’all. I had some major bruises on my toes from the Pastor.

In 2 Peter 3:11-14 the Bible says, “You ought to live holy and godly lives“. Well, yes, of course we should. But then I started thinking that while I’m out and about, I’m pretty good about “being a Christian”. But when I’m home, overwhelmed, changing the billionth dirty diaper, getting melted M&M’s out of Big Sister’s hair (how?!), doing laundry again, cleaning another toilet, washing more dishes, mopping the floor for the third time because someone likes to go potty on it, I’m not that good at showing my love, being holy and being godly.

I lose my patience, I mutter probably not nice words under my breath (I have learned to say things that wouldn’t be the end of the world if Big Sister said them, but it’s the attitude behind them that’s bad). I don’t always have a happy heart. I don’t always do things inside my home the way I would on the outside of my home.

And that’s hard to admit.

But, honestly, I’m trying to be as transparent as I possibly can be. I really feel like God is going to use my honesty. Some how, some way. And I don’t want to be more of a hindrance to His plan.

In the new study we’re doing on Monday nights, Pathway to Purpose for Women, we’re talking about how to love others like Jesus did. Oh boy. Now, here’s a little secret. I don’t really like people. There are some that have fallen into my life whom I love and adore and wouldn’t trade for the world. Then there are others whom I don’t dislike, I just feel pretty neutral towards. I’m a pretty neutral person in life.
Wouldn’t it be much better for my children, that while I’m cleaning and doing the daily things that I don’t love to do, that I do t hem with a happy heart? Even if I’m cleaning up pee pee again, don’t you think I could be encouraging to my children. Wouldn’t it be just as easy to say something with a happy heart as it is to mutter not so nice things under my breath? I think so. I think part of it comes from praying for guidance and help. And part of it comes from just doing it. Deciding that today I’m going to have a happy heart. Even if I don’t feel like it, and just taking the plunge.

So today, my heart is happy. And I will take pride and be thankful for the million articles of clothing I need to fold and put away. For the half broke vacuum that I will use to clean my living room. I will be thankful for my children’s pee & poopy diapers and I will praise my sweet Jesus for the life he has given me.

I love God’s promise to me, “I will give you a new heart — I will give you new and right desires — and put a new spirit within you. I will take out your stony hearts of sin and give you new hearts of love.” Ezekiel 36:26

So prayers today for my new heart. And for yours, if you are like me and you need a little extra help in learning how to love others.

A Bonus Question from My Walk Monday
What is the very first scripture you ever memorized? Or the one you first - remember - memorizing? And when was it?
Psalm 121.
I lift up my eyes to the hills—/where does my help come from?/My help comes from the LORD,/the Maker of heaven and earth./He will not let your foot slip—/he who watches over you will not slumber;/indeed, he who watches over Israel/will neither slumber nor sleep./The LORD watches over you—/the LORD is your shade at your right hand;/the sun will not harm you by day,/nor the moon by night./The LORD will keep you from all harm—/he will watch over your life;/the LORD will watch over your coming and going/both now and forevermore.

I learned this in first grade (pretty impressive, yes?) over Christmas break when I got my very first real non picture Bible for Christmas.
And I thank God for learning this verse because it has helped me so much over the years. My God, who loves me dearly, washes over me. He doesn’t sleep, he watches me. He helps me, he keeps me from harm, forever and ever. My God loves me.

Posted: 04|28|08 at 8:13 am. Filed under: My Walk Monday, big sister.
Comment | Trackback