Amending Mistakes

With my husband and older children gone for the week,

I bravely set out to take the younger 5 children on an outing to pick blackberries. 

I had trouble getting a lunch packed, dinner in the crock pot,

and all the necessities we would need for the day in the van in a timely matter. 

Sadly, I forgot to pack my gentle and quiet spirit.  

My romantic notions of us all picking baskets full of sumptuous berries along the river were sunk.

  As I became desperate to stop the train of irritability that I had so easily succumbed to,

I sighed,

I prayed, 

and I repented.

My children gladly forgave.

  I said I would reward them with Popsicles.

  “You’re the Best Mommy!” I heard enthusiastically from one of the back seats.

  I was humbled. 

If only I could muster the graciousness of a 6 year old.

Warm wind blowing in our faces,

our fingers purple and sticky from our productivity and Popsicles,

we happily made our way home. 

The words of a song I had been listening to over on YaYa Yarns blog saturated my mind:
“And like a flood, His mercy reigns
Unending love-Amazing Grace”

Earlier, I had been soaked in agitation. 

Thankfully, God had heard my cry.

  Thankfully, the children were easily appeased,

and thankfully, I was able to walk away from my selfish attitude and walk with God.

It has been a long, humbling week with my husband  and older ones gone.

  The younger ones are easily out of sorts with half the family missing.

  I have been tried and failed. 

However, His mercy reigns, 

and as Ms. Stacey (Anne of Green gables) wisely stated: 

“Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it.”

When  we go visit Nanny in the morning,

the first thing I will make sure I have with me is

a gentle and quiet spirit.