Oh, the Drama!

Today, was hard...and it was still just morning when I began writing this post.  

Bella was struggling...she didn't want to do school today and it was quite apparent in her attitude.  The spelling test almost put her over the edge.  As she stared at me with a blank expression, completely unable to remember how to spell a word we had been reviewing for a week, I felt the frustration begin to rise in me too.  


How many times do we need to go over this?  Why is she having such a hard time focusing today?  Why is spelling so hard for her?  Today was so supposed to be a very productive day...


She was whiny, frustrated, and, from my point of view, wouldn't put forth the effort needed to focus on the task before her.

And then I realized...she is just like me.

How often do I get frazzled and frustrated over things that are hard for me or when things don't go my way?  How often am I tempted to quit?  How often do I try all sorts of tactics to avoid the task at hand?  How often do I blame circumstances for my bad attitude?


I heard a gentle voice..."Love is patient and kind...it is not rude...it is not irritable or resentful.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."  1Cor. 13: 4-7

I know in my heart that the Lord is speaking to me...He is calming me.


Lean into Me...trust Me...listen to Me...I am here.

Had I even considered seeking the Lord in this situation?  No, but He was seeking me...for the sake of my daughter.  


I encouraged Bella to finish correcting the words she had missed and then we took a break.  The Lord kept my voice calm and gentle and stopped me from lecturing any further.  And He gave me eyes to see my sweet girl who is simply struggling with something that is hard for her.   

Today definitely did not go as I had planned.  I had a lot on my agenda...a lot I needed to accomplish.  

My Lord saw my day differently.  He had a lot He needed to accomplish...in my heart.  

He caused me to stop and consider how to better help Bella instead of continuing down the road of frustration that we were both on.  He changed my focus...instead of looking at the misspelled words, I saw my daughter more clearly.  He called me to encouragement.  He worked in me and He worked in her.  The patience He gave me made a difference in her attitude as well.  


I was reminded of this verse in Deuteronomy and found myself praying through it.

"May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb.  For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!"      Deuteronomy 32:2

Thank you, Lord, for intervening and making it a productive day. 


God bless~
Rach