When I Am Weak, He Is Strong!

Today was one of those long days as a stay at home mom because JohnDavid didn't feel good and because I began my day without Jesus. I left my Bible at church last night along with my current devotional book and notebook and I felt lost without it this morning...even though we have other Bibles here at home I could've used, I chose not to "because it's just not the same as MY Bible that I write all in." Honestly, I know better by now than to even attempt to do anything without Jesus but I'm oh so sinful. Sweet JohnDavid coughed all night and all day, was really clingy and whiny, and by the time bedtime rolled around I felt like an overdone steak. Today wasn't all that bad now that I'm looking back on it, but in the moments when I was frustrated I see how weak I am without Jesus. The truth is I'm ALWAYS weak without Jesus. I'm even weak WITH Jesus but it's then that I'm supposed to lean into Him and His strength! I LOVE these words of Paul:

“Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 HCSB

When I don't seek Him or lean into Him, I don't see His strength let alone feel strong or victorious. I told Jeremy this evening that I had gone in the negative with housework today and that I had some bad mama moments and his sweet, understanding reply was: "That's what tomorrow is for." Y'all...this man of mine gets me. He KNOWS what I need to hear and SAYS it. He's good to me and he's good for me. 

One highlight of today was while JohnDavid and I were outside. I was pulling weeds and JohnDavid began to yell "Pawpaw! Pawpaw! Pawpaw!" I looked up and saw Jeremy's pawpaw walking up his driveway to move his garbage can and JohnDavid took off down the hill towards his house. So I got up in a hurry and didn't grab my phone (camera) or even my glasses. And you know what? There were several times I wanted to have my phone with me for snapping photos of this all boy of ours knee deep in dirt, sitting on a "mawnmower", playing with nerf guns with Pawpaw, or begging me to "ride Mama" in a Step 2 toy that had to be pushed. But since I didn't have my camera I actually got to be ALL IN in the moment and it's an afternoon I won't soon forget. Those big brown eyes and long lashes, the way he runs,  the way he says "mawnmower" and "pishies", the way Pawpaw laughs and grins at him, the way JohnDavid lays in the dirt pushing Tonka trunks...the stories Pawpaw tells me of the days gone by...these are the sweetest times as a stay at home mama. I'm so thankful I get to do this every single day. I'm also really thankful that JohnDavid has so many grandparents and great grandparents that we get to visit with on a weekly basis! I love to hear stories from my grandparents and Jeremy's grandparents and the "good ol' days." We are so blessed and I was reminded of God's love for me in this afternoon. Nevertheless, I was happy to lay our snotty, congested, coughing boy down for bed and unwind. Tomorrow I plan to begin my day right...right in the Word of the Lord asking Him for His strength for the day because I know I can't do it on my own.