Christ in Us!

Last week was a whirlwind, for sure.  Not only were we in the very last stages of finishing up the house, but Kenny and the older 3 boys were also getting ready to travel out to Arkansas for 10 days.  All three boys qualified for nationals in their speech and debate league.  So once again, for the last time this school year, we were doing hair cuts, putting together suits, and finishing up details for travel. Each of the boys ended up going out with a different family, at different times, through different states! On top of that, a number of my kiddos had mini-meltdowns over the changing seasons in their lives, and over different hurts and struggles.  Through it all, I found the favor of God on me.  How could I manage it all? I was somehow gentle and kind, and I found myself so grateful for Christ in me. The power to rise above when I am worn out.  It is not my power, I am limited and run out so quickly.  He fills and sustains and makes it all sweeter.

'I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.' Galatians 2:20
Our house went on the market Friday evening.  Saturday morning I was anxious for a phone call to show the house.  I mean really, after all this work, let's get moving!  After lunch we got 2 calls for showings, and we had 2 hours to get it all perfect.  About 25 minutes before the first showing, the house was almost ready, but the vacuum was still out, the floor un-mopped, the baby napping upstairs. I was packing up a meal for a friend whose husband had back surgery, and I was feeling rushed.  As each one of my children were dutifully carrying baskets of laundry and boxes of et cetera out to the van, one of them yelled, 'they're here!', and we all just kind of panicked.  Ellie was crying over her missing dolly.  Sarah started being, um, Sarah-in-excitement.  The baby was still upstairs in the port-a-crib that's supposed to go in the closet during a showing.  In came the realtor, insisting that the showing start early.  I found myself thinking, 'What do I do now? We're not ready!' So, I did what any other half-exhausted-and quite-overwhelmed-yet-excited-mother-of-young-children-trying-to-sell-her-home would do.  I welcomed them in!  We talked for a few minutes as I wiped up the kitchen counters, and mentioned to the realtor that we were expecting them at 3:45 (not 3:20).  She didn't seem to be very concerned about that, so I made the best of it, feeling very uncomfortable, but trying not to let it show.  They were already halfway through the house anyway!
We headed out to the van with the vacuum still not put away (ugh) and off we went.  I was feeling quite embarrassed and discouraged when my daughter spoke up.  'Mom', said Hannah, 'You handled that amazingly.  You were so gracious and patient.  Good job!'  And all the others agreed.  Seriously? I supposed that it wasn't the end of the world if our very first showing wasn't how it should have been.  My children got to see their mother be gracious under stress.  And if you're a mother, you know that is a beautiful thing!

'To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.' Colossians 1:27
These stresses are only little things in our lives, nothing traumatic or serious, but Christ in us makes them sweeter.  What a joy to have Him live through us.