This week, for our Daily Affirmations, let’s keep it super simple. It’s ok. No really, that’s it, that’s the daily affirmation…It’s ok. It’s nice those weeks when we can memorize scripture verses for our affirmations, or delve deep into the mind, (hey, I consider that deep) but then there are other weeks where it’s more than enough to just say, “It’s ok.”
Daily Affirmations: It’s Ok
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Let me give you some totally, purely, not from my own life at all…ahem…examples…
Baby still in a wet diaper? It’s ok.
You’re still in your comfy yoga pants? It’s ok.
Out of creamer so you used a scoop of ice cream? It’s ok.
The thirty minute educational video turned into one hour? It’s ok.
The beautiful color coded home management binder gathering dust? It’s ok.
Frozen pizza for dinner? It’s ok.
Listened to a little Old Time Rock And Roll
There is not a single item on that list, that if you answered “Yes” would send you to hell in a hand basket today. Now, if you plan on making them a life long habit–well, that’s another story isn’t it? But there are seasons in life. And sometimes those season teach us to let go of the supposed control we think we have or need and just say, “It’s ok.” And ok can be good enough.
Read around some mommy blogs and you’ll eventually find one or 30, where the sweet momma with a newborn and a two year old is lamenting the fact that she should be getting up at 5am every morning to spend her one hour quiet time with God–you know, just like she used to. Or that she used to lay out her Bible, devotional, coffee with flavored creamer and plethora of pens, highlighters and washi tape and journal her way through her Bible each and every morning–right after she started her first of two loads of laundry for the day after she made her color coordinated bed with twenty-five throw pillows.
And then there is the momma who is living in the land of sleep deprivation because the baby is in a growth spurt and nurses every two hours and the toddler is teething and the dog ate something rotten in the trash and is now sicker than a…well, dog. Her husband is working overtime and she has no family or friends to call. When she does have a free minute, she tries to distract herself with Facebook, only to see her college roommate is vacationing in Jamaica and there’s only so many umbrella drinks and beautiful sunset photos she can bear before she feels the resentment gurgling up–or maybe that’s just a result of too much cold coffee on an empty stomach. She quickly clicks over to Pinterest. Her bed sheets don’t match, her coffee cup is chipped and her nails bitten. The latest hair tutorial is lost on her because her hair is constantly in a bun on the top of her head so they baby won’t spit up in it–again, and her husband doesn’t look at her all smoldering like and say with his eyes, “Hey Girl…”
It’s ok.
It’s ok if this season is hard. It’s ok if this season is messy. It’s ok if you feel far from God.
Thankfully our faith is not time or washi tape dependent. Thankfully our faith is not feeling based. Thankfully when we glance at God through cranky toddlers, grouchy teens and crusted dishes…He’s still looking at us.
And that’s all it takes…a glance. God is so in love with you, He takes so much delight in you–He’s there waiting for you to take delight in Him. Now, I am not advising you to shirk your responsibilities and make excuses for sloth. I am advising you to grant yourself some grace. Remember the post a couple weeks ago, The Spirit of Perfection? There was a lovely quote in it from St. Bernard. “The spirit of perfection does not consist in doing great things, but in doing common and ordinary things perfectly.”
You may not be able to spend large chunks of time reading your Bible (I’m using the The NRSV Notetaker’s Bible
You may not be able to scrub the house or even yourself before your husband walks through the door…greet him with a smile and kiss.
You may not be able to vacation in Jamaica…look around, right where you are and start listing all the things you are thankful for. If you don’t think you have anything to be thankful for, look at your surroundings through the eyes of someone living in a shelter or under a bridge right now.
You might not have a matching sheet set with matching duvet and throw pillows…but you can make your bed (I am the worst at making a bed though–I always forget and then when I remember, I figure why bother we’ll be getting back into it later…) anyway, make your bed, light a small candle, turn on some soft music (I’m a big fan of George Winston
So this week’s daily affirmations…It’s ok.
It is OK! 🙂 I love it! We had parent teacher’s conference last night and my oldest, feeling guilty told me, “Mom I have a B in language arts.” I looked at her smiled and said, “It’s ok!” And it was. It is so important to let go of the perfectionism and I’m so thankful for a God who knows our weaknesses and still loves us and forgives us anyway. 🙂 Great post, my friend! Thanks for linking up at Women With Intention Wednesdays!
Don’t we all need that grace to say to ourselves and others…”It’s ok.” Life changing, those two little words.
Oh goodness, yes! This is what I needed to hear!
So glad to have been some encouragement today Susannah!
I really liked this post…It’s ok – how freeing is that ? Thank you…
Very freeing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTjimzpyE4k
Try this one.
Oh I LOVE Third Day! Do you like “Trust in Jesus” or “Don’t Give Up Hope?” I don’t know that they have a song I don’t like. We only have one Christian station down here and sometimes it’s easier to scan the classic rock stations hoping for a good song than to wait for a good one to come on the station here.
Yes, I pretty recently discovered them. So sorry to hear of your radio predicament. I grew up listening to all of what is now classic rock, but lately I’m becoming increasingly sensitive ~ to everything.
Anyway, about your post ~ I had a rough night with co-sleeping, hot flashes and then a migraine early this morning. I didn’t feel like putting a new roll of toilet paper on, so I left it on the floor (I never do that). Then I said to myself, “It’s ok.” and I meant it. I noticed later that my DH did it and I smiled. Baby steps.
Okay, there was probably a better way to copy that, but I love, love it. And I love “It’s ok.”
Michelle the link didn’t go through. Can you repost it or send it to me? You’ve peaked my curiosity!