Do YOU Know what Finished Means???
Good Morning Girls! On Saturday I had me one of those crazy mom moments. You know- one of those moments when all of your pent up emotion and frustration suddenly bursts forth in a wave of fury. Your mouth starts moving and the words come out so fast you cannot even stop them. Your kids look at you with wide eyes like "uh-oh....this is not good.....run for cover......"
Yeah....one of those moments......Oh they make me feel so proud.....and godly......
The reality is it happens. We are human. We can only take so much. I can only ask my kids nicely so many times to clean their rooms until suddenly one minute, I lose it. Typically I lose it because I am upset about a million other things besides their rooms. And though I know that I need to address the fact that they should simply obey me the first time I ask before it builds into a fury of frustration, we are just not at that perfect place yet.
So my kids scrambled off to clean their rooms. About 30 minutes later one of my kids comes down to the laundry room and says "I am done". Now I know that this is impossible because unless everything got thrown out the window there is just no way it could have been picked up in 30 minutes. So I asked "Are you sure you are done?" "Yes." she replies. "Did you put away your basket of clean clothes?" I ask. "Ohhhhhhh" she said "I didn't know you meant that too!"
I then go into a much more restrained moment of frustration saying "I want your room finished. Finished as in done. Finished as in everything that I asked you to do has been done. Finished as in there is nothing left for me to do! Do you understand?!" She nodded her head yes and scampered back upstairs.
"How hard is it to understand what finished means" I mumbled under my breath. Immediately in my heart I heard that still small voice say "It's frustrating isn't it. It's frustrating when they don't understand what finished means. When they don't understand what you mean when you say that there is no more work to be done."
Now the Lord had my attention! I have been trying so hard to wrap my heart and my mind around God's grace. I know I receive it daily. I know it has carried me through many difficult times in my life. I know that if it were not for his grace I would be somewhere lying on the floor in the fetal position sucking my thumb....
I know all these things yet I still struggle with this question: "Yeah, but what am I supposed to do?" I try not to get stuck here. I tell myself over and over that I do not need to do anything. There are many days when I breath easy taking in his grace for what it is.....a gift. A gift that does not come with any strings attached. Oh how I love those days.
But for every day that I freely receive his grace, another day creeps in where I find myself wondering or asking what I need to do to continue to receive more and more grace. "Did I blow it here? Did I run out here? Do I need to do something to show I am really really sorry about this last thing?"
It's so frustrating. If someone else were to come to me and ask I would tell them "It is finished...there is nothing more to do". Somehow though, I still have days when I cry out to God "Did I run out.....Do I have to do something to earn some more.....cuz I am struggling here....and it doesn't feel like your grace is abounding like it was yesterday!"
But the Lord made it clear to me in my laundry room Saturday afternoon.......IT IS FINISHED! Finished as in done. Finished as in there is nothing left for me to do, Or for Him to do for that matter! It's already been done! All of it! Every single little thing has been taken care of. There is not one smelly sock of sin anywhere that needs to be picked up! There is not one toy of obligation that we need to put away neatly. There is not a unmade bed of imperfection that needs to be made in order for us to receive the grace, favor, and blessings He has for us. IT IS FINISHED! Can I get an Amen!?
So Girls, if you have been struggling like me, wondering what exactly "finished" means, struggle no more! Rest today knowing that Gods grace is a gift you receive daily- whether you are being a perfect homemaker or are having a "crazy mom" day.....His grace is for you!!!
John 19:28,30 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, "I am thirsty." When Jesus tasted it he said, "It is finished!" then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
Love, grace, and a finished day to you all,
Jen
Yeah....one of those moments......Oh they make me feel so proud.....and godly......
The reality is it happens. We are human. We can only take so much. I can only ask my kids nicely so many times to clean their rooms until suddenly one minute, I lose it. Typically I lose it because I am upset about a million other things besides their rooms. And though I know that I need to address the fact that they should simply obey me the first time I ask before it builds into a fury of frustration, we are just not at that perfect place yet.
So my kids scrambled off to clean their rooms. About 30 minutes later one of my kids comes down to the laundry room and says "I am done". Now I know that this is impossible because unless everything got thrown out the window there is just no way it could have been picked up in 30 minutes. So I asked "Are you sure you are done?" "Yes." she replies. "Did you put away your basket of clean clothes?" I ask. "Ohhhhhhh" she said "I didn't know you meant that too!"
I then go into a much more restrained moment of frustration saying "I want your room finished. Finished as in done. Finished as in everything that I asked you to do has been done. Finished as in there is nothing left for me to do! Do you understand?!" She nodded her head yes and scampered back upstairs.
"How hard is it to understand what finished means" I mumbled under my breath. Immediately in my heart I heard that still small voice say "It's frustrating isn't it. It's frustrating when they don't understand what finished means. When they don't understand what you mean when you say that there is no more work to be done."
Now the Lord had my attention! I have been trying so hard to wrap my heart and my mind around God's grace. I know I receive it daily. I know it has carried me through many difficult times in my life. I know that if it were not for his grace I would be somewhere lying on the floor in the fetal position sucking my thumb....
I know all these things yet I still struggle with this question: "Yeah, but what am I supposed to do?" I try not to get stuck here. I tell myself over and over that I do not need to do anything. There are many days when I breath easy taking in his grace for what it is.....a gift. A gift that does not come with any strings attached. Oh how I love those days.
But for every day that I freely receive his grace, another day creeps in where I find myself wondering or asking what I need to do to continue to receive more and more grace. "Did I blow it here? Did I run out here? Do I need to do something to show I am really really sorry about this last thing?"
It's so frustrating. If someone else were to come to me and ask I would tell them "It is finished...there is nothing more to do". Somehow though, I still have days when I cry out to God "Did I run out.....Do I have to do something to earn some more.....cuz I am struggling here....and it doesn't feel like your grace is abounding like it was yesterday!"
But the Lord made it clear to me in my laundry room Saturday afternoon.......IT IS FINISHED! Finished as in done. Finished as in there is nothing left for me to do, Or for Him to do for that matter! It's already been done! All of it! Every single little thing has been taken care of. There is not one smelly sock of sin anywhere that needs to be picked up! There is not one toy of obligation that we need to put away neatly. There is not a unmade bed of imperfection that needs to be made in order for us to receive the grace, favor, and blessings He has for us. IT IS FINISHED! Can I get an Amen!?
So Girls, if you have been struggling like me, wondering what exactly "finished" means, struggle no more! Rest today knowing that Gods grace is a gift you receive daily- whether you are being a perfect homemaker or are having a "crazy mom" day.....His grace is for you!!!
John 19:28,30 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, "I am thirsty." When Jesus tasted it he said, "It is finished!" then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
Love, grace, and a finished day to you all,
Jen
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