Real Life

I look forward to my quiet times on Sunday mornings. I take a break from my usual study and read the weekly devotional from Devotions for Sacred Parenting by Gary L. Thomas. This book was given to us when I was pregnant with Lily and Wyatt. At the time, a lot of the things that were written didn't seem as relevant. Now, as the kids are getting older, I find a lot of wisdom in this book each week.

Today's devotional was titled "Real Life" and the verse that went along with it was 1 Peter 1:6-7.

You may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith -- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

There is much grief and many different kinds of trials in life. There are the big griefs and trials of losing a loved one, losing your job, losing your home, a marriage falling apart. But there are daily trials too. Like finding out your house has termites (and that it was treated before you bought the house and it was not disclosed to you). Or you get a flat tire. Or your kids are less obedient than normal. Or you burn the cinnamon rolls your kids were going to eat for breakfast.

The key to trials is not the trial itself, but how you react to the trial. I find for myself that the bigger things in life are easier to handle because you know that God is in control and there is nothing you could do about it. But I must always stop and think before I react to disobedience or burnt cinnamon rolls. Lily and Wyatt are watching.

I must remember that I am to be a reflection of my heavenly Father in real life. I am to be the example that they see. I know that I don't always handle things well. Thankfully God's mercies are new each morning and I am a work in progress. I just need to make sure I am making forward progress.