Hold Onto Love, Let the Rest Go

I make a lot of mistakes. Especially under the category of "mothering". I sometimes yell, lose my temper, and I expect to much out of children that are not even old enough to blow their own noses.  

 I have days where I seem to repeat the same prayer every hour.  It goes something like this:  "God please forgive me for (insert current offense here).  Thank you for your endless love and grace.  Please help me to show that same love and grace to my children.  And please help them be good and so I can have 10 minutes of quiet time.  Amen".  And every time I ask, he forgives. 

 Each time I lose my cool and ask for God's forgiveness I make it a point to ask their forgiveness too.  I let my children know that although I am the boss that does not give me the right to do and say anything I want.  Each time I tell them (the 3 or 4 year old.  The other 2 don't do much talking) "Mommy was wrong.  Will you forgive me?"  I receive an immediate "YES"  with a big, long hug to follow.  And then they are done with it.  They don't remind me of my mistake at a later time or use it to make me feel bad.

 

How is it that these little children who know so little about the world have this forgiveness thing all figured out.  Could it be that their amazingly beautiful souls have not yet been tainted by their world.  They just want to hold onto love and let everything else go.  Wow.  I want to be like that.  I want to live like that.  I want my kids to see me living like that.

I hope that, as they learn more and more about the fallen world they live in, they will continue to hold onto the love and choose to let the rest go.  And I hope that I can be their example when they need forgiveness.