Wonder Woman

Two years ago, for Mother's Day, Harper picked out a card for me at Walmart. She loves to do this and usually picks whatever character SHE loves at the time. This particular year she gave me a card with Wonder Woman on it. She still loves Wonder Woman and what girl wouldn't? She's beautiful, strong, pretty smile, awesome magical lasso, and always saves the day! I loved the card but I've always kept it on my bathroom vanity because of what Harper said: "Mama, do you know why I got you that card? Because you are just like Wonder Woman!!" All I could think was, "this child is truly delusional!" Who does she see when she looks at me? A mom who is patient, understanding, compassionate, funny, and has it all together? When I lay in bed at night I see a mom who lost her temper, forgot the lunchbox at home, didn't finish the list of things to do, lost patience with homework, and fed her spaghettios for supper.

This Sunday at church our Children's Minister, Mark Williams,, gave a sermon that hit me hard. It's about one of Jesus's miracles that I'd heard about since I was a child: The Feeding of the 5,000 in John:6 of the Bible. The story goes that people had heard and seen the miracles Jesus was doing so they started following him around to see more. The crowd had gotten up to 5,000 men and who know show many women and children. The people were beginning to get a little hangry so Jesus told his disciples to find some food for them. Phillip began calculating how much money they needed to buy enough food. I can totally relate to this because I'm a planner and need to have all the details! The other disciple, Andrew, went around the crowd and came back with a boy who had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. I bet Phillip was like, "are you for real, dude? I'm over here planning out everything and you got enough for a small snack?" Jesus told them to have everyone sit down. He took the food, said thanks, and gave it to the people. After every single person had all they could eat there were 12 baskets of food left!

The point Mark made in his sermon was that the boy came with all he had and Jesus turned it into something incredible! All I could think was how the world puts so much pressure on us to be perfect. The world says be prettier, smarter, funnier, more successful, richer, thinner, and nicer. Everyone will love you! You'll be so much happier! Isn't that the point? That is what the world tells us. Jesus tells us that we don't have to have it all together. We don't have to be a perfect mom, daughter, father, son, friend, etc. It's great to try to be a good person but running yourself into exhaustion and stress that you aren't meant to handle isn't what God made us for. I've found in my past that the times you come up short are the times God steps in and really shows out!

When I got home to put on my Sunday afternoon comfy clothes I saw that card with Wonder Woman on the front. Harper may think I'm Wonder Woman and I'm thankful for that! But I know where I fall short and feel unqualified. I try to give myself grace - the same grace God gives us when we follow Him. He takes the pressure off of us along with all the stress, worry, and confusion. We don't have to be able to do it all or live up to a standard society gives us. We live up to God's standard everyday when we wake up and give him all the glory. All he expects us to do is bring him all we have - he will handle the rest.