Have you ever packed up your children... stuffed them all in the Caravan... added the suitcases, strollers, booster seats, and playpens and then taken off on a road trip? Chances are you have! A road trip with a car full of little ones is always an adventure, no matter the destination. Now have you ever braved such an adventure without "Dad" in the driver seat? Maybe you haven't packed up and gone on a trip without the Father of your children... maybe he's had to go away on a business trip... maybe he works long hours or does shift work or maybe he's had to be away for any number of reasons. Now the "Adventure" part of the day takes on a whole new level!
In my time as a mother I have often chosen for one reason or another to brave such an adventure on my own. Other times I have had no choice but to go about it alone and I've noticed that no matter why it is that "Daddy's" not around for an evening, a weekend, a whole week or (Lord help me) longer chaos starts to reign! The kids get grumpy, and I get grumpy. Simple tasks become complicated and difficult. The whole balancing act gets thrown off. Mealtime, bedtime, discipline, and everything else just aren't the same when Dad isn't there for an extended period of time.
During my last road trip adventure without my husband I was thinking about how everything was getting out of hand. I thought about how things often go wrong when I am on my own, even if I have family and friends helping out. The child who eats everything is all of a sudden picky... the perfect sleeper won't go to bed... and Mr. Manners has just discovered a new word that isn't so polite! Then I started to think about this from a spiritual perspective. Times when I have been away from my Heavenly Father for far too long. Days when I start without HIM. Even moments when I've turned away because I've thought for some reason that I can do it by myself (now I am sounding like my 2 year old)!
Chances are during the time God has blessed us with little ones at our feet we will face times when we feel very alone. I would encourage you in these times (and all the time) to stay close to Our Father, God. I know that the mornings I begin with a prayer start off so much better. Prayer doesn't stop the milk from being spilt but it sure does something to my spirit to keep me calm as I am cleaning up the mess for the 3rd time already! I'm a very busy mom but times is a funny thing and I believe that God blesses us with more time when we make time for Him.
Motherhood is an adventure... may God be your strength in your adventure today!
Psalm 73:23-26
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
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