My Pledge

Yes, the stay home order is finally in force. Preschools are finally "closed". Work deliverables have not been suspended; in fact, they have mounted up.

It has been a few days thus far; and while it is true it hasn't been easy, the prospect of the days ahead is what I find is more psychologically straining.

And so, this pledge to help me along.

In this season, I choose to:

• be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12)
• not compare myself against others, neither making myself look good or feeling inadequate 
• cease coveting what others have, e.g. time to bake, clean their houses, craft etc. 
• lay down the perfectionist attitude - I will not attempt to cook all meals, I will learn to tolerate untidiness 
• take things moment by moment 
• be present to my child, to take this as an opportunity to get to know her more in the increased time together
• set goals for my child that extend beyond this season, even if that means forgoing her home-based learning activities; seek God for the goals we should be pursuing 
• not frustrate my child my forcing her to get through home-based learning activities that I know she is not ready for 
• look beyond the surface, i.e., the activity, and instead focus on the learning goal - and remember I can accomplish that in so many other ways
• love my child unconditionally even when that impinges on my own comfort 
• have the Romans 12:12 attitude toward my husband 
• take this as an opportunity to renew my family and home culture, to break the bad circuits
• be open to what God is bringing to my family in this season
• make time to care for myself - first of all spiritually, but also physically
• forgive myself, for I will fail - knowing that God's mercies are new every morning
• remember God's promises for each moment of uncertainly and stress 
• be thankful, helpful, giving, and prayerful toward others 
• forgive, forgive, and forgive again for others' lack of understanding toward me during this season
• obey God in not giving into a bitter attitude toward those who hurt me