Dirty Socks, Dirty Hearts

Like many Type A Moms, I like to plan ahead.

I like to make lists.

I like to be organized.

I like to remember everything.

I like to plan things that make life not just organized,

but special.

When traveling as a new Mom,

I easily figured out I had to do conquer Mount Washmore

just prior to packing.

Do laundry too soon,

and you have nothing to wear. 

It's all packed.

Do laundry too late,

you're washing when you should be packing.

Doing the laundry first was a no-brainer

in learning how to travel with kids.

All moms do that, even the ones who aren't

 feverish, frantic list-makers-crosser-offers.

But, as a young Mom,

I learned the hard way I was forgetting a major step.

FIND

all the dirty laundry

BEFORE

you finish all the laundry.

The first place you check,

is the dresser drawers.

Yea, I know clean laundry goes in the dresser,

but my kids don't alway get that concept.

Oh, don't forget checking

 between the wall and the bed,

under the bed and 

under the covers.

Check in the closet.

If they're girls, look in all purses, backpacks, boxes

and anything they would pack to travel to Europe

in their wild imaginations.

Look in the toybox, the front hall closet and all vehicles.

The amazing thing about this process is,

that even though you thought you were "caught up" on laundry,

you could find enough to keep you outta' trouble for a long time.

This was one nameless child's dirty laundry stash.

When I completed this process when all six kids were at home,

it became a scavenger hunt.

Not only did I find all the dirty laundry,

I found many other treasures, like

my fingernail clippers,

my scissors,

my ruler,

my stapler,

my library card,

my flashlight,

my water bottle,

my toenail clippers,

my favorite pink fingernail polish,

and

my missing socks.

Only after the Dirty Laundry Scavenger Hunt,

was I really ready to do laundry.

If conquering Mount Washmore

is a beautiful reminder of being washed and made whiter than snow,

doncha' think searching for the dirty laundry

also has spiritual significance?

Psalm 139: 23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.

When we dig into God's Word

and apply it to our hearts,

 dirt will be revealed

and treasures will be found.

I found all the dirty laundry,

washed and packed.

Now, I'm searching my heart.

Ya' never know what dirty socks could be lingering

in those dark corners.

**********

Today I'm linking up!

Follow my trail of dirty laundry to

Mom's The Word

Dealing With Temper Tantrums - Part One

Sometimes, there is obvious anger.  There will be name-calling, door-slamming, yelling and lashing out at others.  It is easy to spot, hard to subdue, but easily recognized as sin. It is a kettle boiling over,  you relieve the pressure, clean up the mess, and dinner can still be saved.

Anger can be displayed as frustration, with exagerated sighs, fidgeting movements, curt replies and distraction.  It can be harder to identify as sinful anger, but easier to subdue with laughter or diversion.  It is the kettle boiling near the top, you lower the temperature and all is well.  If you don't lower the temperature, it might boil over.

Other times, anger is displayed as quietness, with clenched jaws, rolling of eyes, snearing lips and a seared heart.  If practiced continually, it may be impossible for others to perceive, and the person  may wrongfully feel they are "controlling" their anger, therefore impossible to subdue. It might be accepted as a state of victory, because the top didn't blow.

But, it could be the deadliess form of anger if not rooted out. It can continue until the soul is barren and bitter. It is the kettle that has run out of moisture, unnoticed and scorched. By the time the lid is lifted, dinner might not be salvagable.

We are quick to jump on obvious anger. It is easy to spot, easy to correct, although guilt can be strong fall-out, which leads to more anger.

It is easy to deal with the name-calling, door-slamming, yelling and lashing out at others.

It can be the hardest part of parenting, dealing with tempertantrums, but we Mommies MUST reign over our emotions.

Yea, you were hoping I was talking about the kids.  I'm not.

I'm talking about Naughty Mommies.  I'm talking about them because I am one of them.

If there are tantrums in your children,  first check is to see how YOU deal with pain, disappointment, accidents, offense, lack of sleep, lack of food (hypoglycemic, anyone?), relationships and prayers not answered according to your plans. 

All things physical, emotional, mental and spiritual can cause tantrums.

No excuses, right?  Just because we're not feeling well, doesn't give us permision to act naughty, right?

Isn't that what we tell our kids?

Today, ask the Lord to give you insight to your own anger, in each of these three  stages of action.

How do you react?

What are your causes?

Psalm 139:23-24

 Search me, O God,

and know my heart: try me,

and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

We are blessed to have a Father in Heaven who is parenting us with such love, grace, mercy and forgivness.  He longs for us to trust Him completely.

He will show our hearts, and lead us in the way.