Faith & Narwhals

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Three year old Kaylie wanted to go through the ocean creatures cards today. I read the fun facts off the backs of each card she handed me as she introduced the starfish to the octopus. 

When she handed me the "Narwhal" card to read, I remembered a conversation I'd had with my friend Linda about them. I wanted her to know I was thinking of her, so I posted this photo on Facebook, which received these comments:

"And they are not mythical!"

-Tammy

"No, they're real!"

-Christy

It was only after reading these comments on the photo that I remembered Linda saying that many people don't believe her when she says that they really do exist. 

My other two Facebook friends have obviously run into the same skepticism.

But Kaylie believed me without question.

At her age, even the mundane is magical and new and amazing to her!

... So even when we jaded grownups would consider something magical and new, it's just normal for little Kaylie, since "magical and new" describes everything in her world. 

She gets the miracle of our world. 

And it's perfectly normal to her.

I remember taking the family to Sea World, thanks to the generosity of a new friend, and while the rest of us were in awe at petting dolphins and hugging sea lions... Kaylie was more fascinated by leaves, sticks, and the puddles next to the dolphins. 

I wonder if my toddler believing that God made a whale with a unicorn horn sticking out of its noggin is a glimpse into understanding what Jesus was talking about when He said, 

"I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." Mark 10:13-16

If I were miraculously teleported by the Spirit like Philip, I'd be a little freaked out! I'd probably assume I was drugged and kidnapped or something!

But Kaylie would probably think it was the most normal thing in the world and carry on just like Philip did when the Spirit whisked him away.

How beautiful it would be to walk with the Lord in such trust every day.

Have you ever experienced having the faith of a child?

Is There Spinach In My Teeth?

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Is There Spinach In My Teeth?

I'm at the bar, smiling, talking, laughing with my BFFs. I'm wearing my sexy red lipstick and I give that hot guy my best smile. Wait. Why did he just look like he smelled a fart and walk away?? ..... Read more @ Signature26.com

My Kids Are Going To Be So Messed Up

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I am SO not the perfect parent.
My kids will attest to that.

This week, I read a facebook post complaining about moms complaining on facebook (Say that 10 times fast).

I'm sure that it wasn't specifically directed at me because I'm so inconsequential in the life of this person.
But it kicked me in the gut anyway.

I started wondering if I'm a bad mom. 
I was overcome with guilt every time my kids asked me to "look, mom!" or "will you?"

But not in a good, fruitful way. 
Not in the way I re-start paying attention, soaking in every detail of each one of my babies after reading a story like Ronan's. 

Even with a more-than-usual work load of writing commitments looming over me, a new workshop presentation just days away, a sink full of dishes, and a mountain of laundry, and only an accumulative of 8 hours sleep the last two days, I made sure the kids ate balanced meals at the table with me. We read, we played, we talked, and I catered to every whim of each one of my children all day, attempting to appease the guilt that I took on over this one post.

Half way through our second walk of the day (at the request of Kaylie), it hit me:
If I worked outside the home, I'd be away from my kids ALL. DAY. LONG.
Instantly, my guilt subsided and I felt free to be a work-at-home-homeschooling-mom again.

That night a good friend shared this well-timed article, FOR THE DOG DAYS OF MOTHERHOOD WHEN YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK where Lisa-Jo wrote what I needed to hear after feeling the effects of that facebook post: 

I am convinced that the God who made you, sculpted you, loved you into being considers your story just as important as the work of rescuing women from the slums in Kenya or the traffickers in Ukraine. 

Even on the days when no one knows what you did. Maybe most especially on those days. When there are no awards or headlines or standing ovations. I believe that the God who began this work in and through you will carry it, and you if necessary, across the finish line. 

And that He understands tired. He gets needing space. He’s lived the burnout of too many demanding hands all tugging at the same time. This Jesus-brother-human-maker who on the day when “so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat,” said to his friends, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Yeah.
He does get it.

I'll bet after thinking it was impossible to ever have a child of her own and finally being blessed with Isaac, even Sarah just wanted to use the bathroom without an audience once in a while.

So am I a bad mom?

You bet I am.
Because there is no perfect parent. 
No matter how hard I try, I will always be found lacking.

I know that no matter what I do or how many parenting books I read I'm going to screw up my kids.
It's inevitable.
Even the talented moms on Pinterest are flawed somewhere in their parenting. 

But my hope is NOT in my own abilities.

That's why I pray that God will cover my parenting shortcomings with His grace.

And I want my kids to see my weaknesses because God says that's where He is strongest.

Not only does this take the pressure off of having to strive for perfection, but it also gives my kids permission to learn alongside me as a flawed human who Christ had to die for.

Christ is perfect so that, by His grace, I don't have to be. 


What lies of perfection have you been believing?

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Find more of Genevieve West's insights & antics:
Twitter @GenevieveWest
MrsGWest.blogspot.com

A Not-So-Happy Father's Day

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For Mother's Day I wrote about some circumstances that might make Mother's Day a painful day for many women.

But I haven't forgotten about you, Dads.

Maybe your own excellent father has passed away and you miss him acutely.
Maybe Dad wasn't such a great guy and his passing has robbed you of the hope of reconciliation.
Maybe you're a father who's son is estranged, or maybe you're the estranged son.
Maybe you've lost a child or experienced a miscarriage, or abortion.
Maybe you're ignored as others ask, "How is she?"

You feel the pain differently, but it's no less than hers.

That gaping hole in your heart, you'd never wish upon another.

I don't pretend to know why God allows terrible things to happen.
All I know is that He is a loving Father who loved you so much that He didn't even spare His only Son's life in order to be with you again. 

He is a God who knows your agony first hand and He wants desperately to comfort you in your grief and your anger - even if your anger is directed at him. He can take it.

We value story here.
We invite you to please share your Dad story with us in the comments below.

Click HERE to read: Father's Day Is Still A Time For Celebrating

Click HERE for an article on Dealing With Grief: Five Things NOT To Say And Five Things To Say In A Trauma Involving Children

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 1 Corinthians 1:4

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. Revelation 21:4