Let it sink in, Mama: it’s the year 2020! It sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but instead of a flying car and a robot that makes you look fabulous every morning in less time than it takes to wash your hands, like you may have hoped for, you find yourself in social isolation (and that robot is not on Amazon’s list of essential shipments)! In fact, at this point, you’re pretty sure you have become the robot -and a makeup-less one at that- whose kids hit your “repeat button” weeks ago. Okay, maybe I’m describing myself more than you, but I am living in my own little robot world right now, and I am gonna keep telling myself that I’m not the only one!
With a quick glimpse into my world, you would find a teething baby who wants to be held repeatedly, laundry that’s constantly buzzing, and a child who needs continual reminding to stay on task with school! You would also see -praise be to Jesus- that the good outweighs the bad. I get lots a baby snuggles, we read the Bible together at my son’s request and compare our children’s Bibles to Mom’s Bible (which he refers to as the “full version”). My children actually play with their toys now, my son finally learned to ride his bike without training wheels, and we have found a few new hikes! Maybe I’m not a makeup-less robot after all; perhaps I’m a natural mama trying to make the best of an unusual situation!
Don’t get me wrong, I am scared, too, and I have to choose not to live in fear. This is HARD for me; I often stuggle with anxiety, and the number one driver of it over the years has been the health and wellbeing of my family. Go figure! I do lots of things to cope with my anxiety, and put together a list of a few of them here; I’m sure you’ll find something to help you cope, too.
Some of you may know that my word for 2019 was joy, and the Lord worked a lot on my anxiety and restoring my Joy in 2019. I happily decided to keep it for 2020, but this morning, the Lord laid it on my heart to add the word contentment. It’s not a pretty word like joy, but we are not in a pretty situation. This passage of verses came to mind, and I plan to put them up on my fridge next to my joy verses from last year.
Philippians 4:11-13
“Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” – Philippians 4:11-13 (MSG)
Praise be to God! I am blessed to sit this trial out on my couch, and not in a prison cell like Paul! His words offer golden insights for our situation all the same. Together we can be “mamas on a mission” to share our joy-filled, content hearts with those in need around us. There is so much more I want to say, but my teething baby needs me, and my robot still hasn’t arrived to clean my bathrooms yet, so I’d best be off!
Lots of love and prayers; God bless you, Mamas of 2020!
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