Some Days

So, I hate mention it, but some days we really have it together around here. You know, those days where the kids sleep in long enough for me to have some time to exercise, read, sip a cup of coffee, AND take a peaceful shower before they open their sweet little eyes. Where the kids wake up vibrantly refreshed and cheerful, have a jolly old time playing together, using their imaginations, and giggling their way through the day. Those days where none of them have a nose running like a faucet, they all choose kleenex over nose picking, and they all make it to the toilet AND remember to flush. Those days where they play nicely with their things and somehow remember to pick them up, too. Those days where we use words like "Sweetie" over "Meanie!" and phrases like, "I love you" over "I'm not going to be your friend anymore!!" You know. Those days.

Of course to be fair I have to include those other days. You know, those days when you wake up to a kid sitting on your head loudly telling you they want breakfast, where you can barely pry your eyes open to crawl out of bed, let alone keep up with their already explosive energy. Those days where they wake up fighting, where they pick and poke and peck at each other so consistently that tears and tantrums break out every 5 minutes. Where after an hour or so of that, you officially hit the limit and completely lose it correct them and snap something to the effect of, "STOP FIGHTING AND SHOW SOME SELF CONTROL!!" (ahem.) Where you're so glad that you can start the day afresh after a good night of sleep and decide begin the bedtime process, only to realize it's only 11AM. ;) You know. Those days.

And of course while I say all of this with perhaps some slight exaggeration, I hope I'm not alone in this: some days raising littles are just plain beautiful, and others feel a bit more like survival. And for a fam of 6 that has just moved internationally and are now adjusting to a new time zone, a new culture, a new way of life, not to mention living out of suitcases for a few months and currently residing in a tiny two bedroom apartment with no way of transport save our own two feet, not to mention the emotional stress of all of the goodbyes we've had this past month... Well, let's just be real, here. We all have had our roller coaster moments, and we definitely have not found our new normal quite yet.

And so this last week when the Lord kept repeatedly placing a certain Scripture into my mind and before my eyes, I have tried to latch on and treasure it's Truth: Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The same. The same. The SAME.

We never have to wonder about our Jesus. We don't have to try to guess His mood, relieve His stress, help Him cope. We don't have to doubt His character, question His power,  or wonder if He's going to have the patience and strength to deal with us today. In the midst of our unpredictable, ever changing lives, He's the constant. Every other thing in our world will at some point change in some way, but not Jesus. He's the anchor. He's ever near. He's the steadfast, holy, good, loving, caring, burden bearer that never leaves us, that walks with us through every change and through it all remains. The same.

And as I reflect on that Truth about my Savior, I find myself asking Him to build into my life that kind of consistency. The kind where my moods and my speech and my actions are not determined by how I feel or by my circumstances, but by what is true. Where regardless of my situation, I love like He does, care like He cares, give like He gives. Where I trust when it's hard and when I can't explain why, when I walk in Truth both when I'm comfortable and when I'm not. I pray that God gives me the grace to be consistent, because He is.

It all comes full circle, you know. Because when my life looks like His, I can say to those beautiful little people that He has placed in my care, "Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ." (1Cor11:1)

So while I know that I will fail, I make it my aim to be like Him. And the next time we have one of "those days," may it point us all to the one who remains the same. Not just some days...but ALWAYS.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.