“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you…” John 14:27
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We are all in the thick of the end-of-school madness. Every mom out there is overloaded, and overwhelmed. Hanging on by our fingernails, we’re just trying to get through.
We can’t even begin to imagine that God could grant us peace in the midst of this crazy time. But I’ve learned over and over again, never underestimate Him, or His awesome power.
God’s peace is different from the world’s. The world convinces us that peace equals white space on our calendars, quiet time alone, and everything going our way. We don’t feel peaceful until we finally have the time and space to sit back and enjoy what we have.
God’s peace is counting our blessings in the midst of the crazy. It happens in the mess and clamor of our kitchens, when we reflect back on how desperately we wanted our little mess-makes to make our families and homes complete.
It happens at Walmart at 8 p.m. on a school night when we’ve run there for supplies for a last minute school assignment. As we turn to hand the poster board to our son in aisle 8, our hands touch, causing a shock of recognition that he is the culmination of all we ever dreamed of.
It happens two minutes before the bus comes, dressing our daughter in her costume for the school concert. As we pull the dress down over her head, we come eye to eye, crashing into a gaze that is so full of love and gratitude for all we do, we’re humbled to our knees.
It happens as we swerve, last minute, into the Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru to grab gift cards for the teachers. As we wait on the cashier, we realize just how thankful we are for these educators who partner with us, helping to shape our children’s minds and their futures.
Yes, we are all exhausted, running on fumes like a marathon runner on mile 25. But this is the race we were put on earth to run, not the laundry, or the grocery shopping, or the dinner prep. These beautiful blessings who call us “Mom” are finishing up another year of becoming the amazing people we know they will become.
It’s when we can focus on that, we find God and His peace pouring all over us, even in the midst of the mayhem.
Questions for Reflection:
* Rather than counting the things on my to-do list that I’ve yet to get done, can I refocus and count all the blessings this school year has brought to my children?
* Will doing so help me feel the peace God wants to extend to me?
Shifting My Perspective 
Claire, this is the most beautiful testimony to God’s love and motherhood that I have ever read. God bless you for putting new eyes on peace and finding appreciation and wonderment in His/our children!! xo
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Thanks, Mom! For years I looked at this time of year as such an overwhelming burden. I’m so grateful God showed me a new way to look at it. Not only is it saving my sanity, but it’s making me appreciate each and every day of the chaos. 🙂
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Thanks for your Daily Devotions on June 14th in THESE DAYS. I am an 84 year old great grandmother with a pacemaker/defibrillator and have 7 greats. 3 are in school and 2 in day care that they have all gone to including 2 more in Ca. I love them all so much. On that day you said Ignorance is Bliss. How true. I am worn out from helping rear my own two sons, 5 grand daughters and now the greats. I have arthritis and that stops me from doing a lot that I would like to do. Also your article on school also helped me. I am worn out from graduation from kindergartens, Cub Scout activities, field trips, Awards nights, Band Concerts. I love being there but I am worn out and tired and their is no comfortable seating and it often is so crowded that it concerns me if there was a fire-that all could get out safely. Parking requires walking great distances often and that is difficult for me. My husband passed 21 years ago and most of my friends have died or moved away to be closer for their children to help them. The ones I still have suffer from various amounts of dementia and 2 are locked in wards for their own safety as they would drive or walk away and be lost. My two sons have busy lives and one of them works two jobs and the other is a realtor and works nights and week ends often. I am thankful they both have employment but it leaves them with little time to spare for me. I am lonely and watch too much tv and spend too much time on the computer. I miss having someone to discuss my day with. Thanks for your helpful articles. I have read more books this past year than I ever did and hope to read some of your soon.
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Mary, thank you so much for reading my reflections in These Days, and for reading and commenting here. It sounds like you have given your heart and soul to your family. They are VERY lucky to have you! And those great grandchildren especially, must love having you in their lives. Regarding your point about being lonely, the more time that goes by, the more I realize we are never truly alone. God is ALWAYS with us. I’m sure you feel His presence when you’re reflecting with These Days and other scripture/spiritual readings. I encourage you to continue reading more – and searching for Him between the lines and the words. Again, thank you for your heartfelt comment. It touched me deeply.
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Dear Claire,
I love reading your blog. New eyes and new ears of Jesus help us look at the “mayhem” and realize that is where the joy truly is located. I have been where you are when I was raising my 4 children and your language brought tears to my eyes reliving those times. Now, I love rejoicing in my grandchildren. love.Lorraine
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Lorraine, it’s always meant so much to me that you read my blogs. But having you comment has me over the moon! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and inspiring us all with how you rejoice in your grandchildren!
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Just beautiful Claire. Such a wonderful reminder that God’s love is all around us. We just need to open our eyes to see it. Thank you!
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Thank you, Jess! Agreed – His love IS everywhere! I’m always astounded, though, on how often I’m blind to it. My spiritual director was just talking about the same thing, but in the metaphor of open doors. I tend to walk right by those too. Here’s to new site and passing through many, many of God’s open doors for the both of us!
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