Grace, Not Perfection

Remember, though, that this part of life—this busy, crazy, circus-like place you’re in—is but a season. It will come and go just like all the others.

God has a way of making our seasons make sense, doesn’t He? Sometimes it just takes a little bit of leaning in to realize that even if life doesn’t look as glamorous as it could, His beautif

Sometimes it just takes a little bit of leaning in to realize that even if life doesn’t look as glamorous as it could, His beautiful plan is still at work.

Physical clutter is mental clutter.

Ultimately, simplifying allows us to slow down enough to savor this life.

You control your perspective and the state of your heart in the situation you are in today—even when you can’t control the circumstances. Choose gratitude and grace every morning. Grace and gratitude go hand in hand.

Our time with little ones is so fleeting. It’s both the fastest and slowest time of our lives. And for many of us, beginning motherhood coincides with a lot of other important life milestones. Our careers may be taking off. Our parents are getting older. We have big responsibilities and so many things beeping and buzzing to notify us that we’re needed. Our minds are consumed with bills, to-do lists, behavior issues, comparisons, and attempts at doing everything just right. And all the while, our little ones are growing another quarter of an inch. Their chubby thighs are slimming. Their wobbly walks are steadying. If we don’t purposefully and intentionally slow down, free our hands, walk away, and say no, this precious, messy season of life will pass us by.

Love them with big, unapologetic, awkward, wholehearted love. Love others like the One who loves you. Start the good cycle of filling up your well by intentionally filling up someone else’s. Say the things you’re tempted to keep inside. Give the hugs. Be an includer. Let everyone have a seat at the table.

God’s grace shines through our ability to love others with sincere patience, gratitude, and acceptance.

Here’s the thing about grace: you don’t have to be perfect to embrace it. Grace is free—for imperfect and unworthy people like you and me. Did you catch that? You don’t have to be perfect! I don’t either! Jesus took care of that for us. He went before us and made a way. While we are busy trying to plan extravagant birthday parties and have exquisitely put-together homes, God has set a standard totally outside our realm of thinking. Instead of calling us to be hopeless overachievers, he calls us to “walk by the Spirit . . . [with] love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:16, 22–23).