There comes a day as a parent when your kids realize you are not perfect and you can’t do everything. For some of us, that can be a hard day. For me, it hasn’t been only one hard day. Every time my girls remind me I’m human, every time they see my weaknesses and the chinks in my carefully crafted parenting armor, I experience that moment like it’s the first time. It’s not, but I like to tell myself I’m capable of more than I am and I like to think my teenagers won’t see my shortcomings—this time. And yet they do.
Of course, they do. And nine times out of ten, they pour grace over me when they do. For example, just tonight when I lamented that I had actually completely forgotten to write this post because I’d gotten caught up in other parts of my day, my 17 year old told me, It’s okay. You can’t do everything all at once. Those words are steeped in wisdom and they were what I needed to hear. They were the reminder I needed because I’m in a season of transition in my life right now and I don’t do so well with transitions, especially when, like now, I’m not sure what’s on my horizon.
It’s okay. You can’t do everything all at once.
I’m putting those words on a new thought playlist in my mind right now. Putting them on repeat, actually. I recently finished the audio book, Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table by Louie Giglio. Among other topics, Giglio talks about taking our thoughts captive to Christ and even provides some powerful, helpful scripture verses to put on repeat in your heart, mind, and soul. Alongside his suggested passages, I am adding my girl’s wise words because truly I have a hard time not trying to do everything all at once just about every day these days. I feel pulled in myriad directions and none of them are bad ones.
It’s okay. You can’t do everything all at once.
As I sit with those words for a few moments, I invite myself to breathe deeply and consider the day, to consider the people who matter to me, the ones for whom I pray regularly each morning. I remind myself how much they matter to me and why. I sit in silence and let the whisper of my heavenly Father speak to my heart. His words echo the ones He spoke through my 17 year old: It’s okay. You aren’t supposed to do everything all at once.
I admit I forget these kinds of truths. I let the doing become the focus rather than the being. And I know pretty easily I’m off the mark when my frustration builds over small things. I know because my 15 year old will ask me, Are you okay? or Do you need any help in there? or Can I give you a hug? Like her sister’s words, my 15 year old’s words remind me that indeed I am trying to do everything all at once. I’m also trying to do it in my own strength; that’s what happens when I become focused on check lists of To Dos and on getting things done and lose sight of being who I am created to be and the people for whom I choose to do the things I do.
Unfortunately, because I am human, this wisdom and these words will ebb and flow, fading from the front of my mind. But, the beauty of grace and redemption is the gift of second chances and opportunities to hold onto wisdom a little longer. And, even more, the gift in the moments when I fall into these old and broken ways, God provides reminders in the words, the wisdom, the hugs, and the voices of these two incredible young women.
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