READER SPOTLIGHT – Kelly Balarie
Reader Spotlight is one of my favorite series here on Lil Light O’ Mine. It’s a chance for me to spotlight the readers that come here so often – that write! My regular contributors are dear friends, but there are mounds of awesome moms out there – stories, insights, ideas and tales that need to be told. This insight is one of them. Kelly! Thanks for the encouragement – Courtney
How to Get Through “One of Those Days”
It was one of those days.
“I don’t want to leave the house. I don’t want to put my shoes on. I can’t get dressed. I don’t want to get in the car. I can’t buckle myself in. I don’t want music. I do want music. Mommy, I am hungry. I am not hungry. I am thirsty. I am not thirsty.”
We make it to the car – a small victory!
“Mommy, don’t sing. I don’t like music. I want my window down. I don’t want the wind to hit me.”
Finally, our car pulls into our destination – a huge victory!
Goliath may have been strong and mighty, but all I know is that I felt like David as I walked onto that soccer field. I defeated my giant. I arrived. I did it!
If only the story ended here. Because if it did, I could wrap it up with a bow and say, “persevere my sister, all will get better – just obey, be loving and trust God.”
But, guess what? As I pushed my little son towards his class, tears gushed out, screams filled the air and his grip on me was tighter than a python preparing to eat his prey. Try as I may, I knew this boy was going to get his way.
The strings of my heart tightened in a knot and they became so tense and so tight that, for a moment, I felt like my heart was going to snap from the tension. My next step was completely lost on me. I stood frozen and completely out of control. I battled whether to shove or to love. Sometimes, we just don’t know. Sometimes, we are at a loss.
And, sometimes, our days just end up a jumbled mess. We want to hide. We search for a rock big enough to hide us from the mess that is happening all around us. Our world comes crashing down, and, frankly, we’re not sure if we can handle it.
Granted, I know this story is not a colossal life-threatening trial; but it was my trial for a day – and sometimes our trials are not the big things, but the little things. Little things that add up to a big opportunity to fall into the arms of Christ.
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:
and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. (Luke 16:10 KJV)
We all want to be faithful, but sometimes we can hardly keep our balance, let alone think about faith. But, it is in this space – in these trials – where God has hidden beauty away, just waiting for our discovery. It is where we stand in front of the true power of God.
We see that we can’t do it – but, He can.
We need Him in order to be faithful, to carry us through and to help us. We need his strength, his power and his love to work through us.
When we finally realize we can’t “fix” life ourselves, we finally make progress. We can drop our tired weary bodies into his hands, surrender all and call on His name. We can lift it up, trust that he can hear us, and wait on Him to calm things down. We sit in our pain and in our trials, knowing that we will come through. We can trust in that.
When life is crumbling under our feet, and all else fails, there is one truth we can always stand on; he has a new day prepared for us – and new mercies – awaiting us in the morning. He is there. hears us. He won’t let us fall.
“Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentations 3:23)
Much love,
Kelly Balarie is a fun-loving outgoing “Cheerleader of Faith”. Her goal is to shine the light of Christ into the darkest areas of life to illuminate truth, to brighten faith and to light the way to lasting fulfillment, peace and joy.
Her life has been far from picture perfect. Her faith was built as she battled through a debilitating eating disorder, depression, company failures, death, job losses, health concerns and times without income or money. Throughout her unique but difficult circumstances, Kelly has looked past the pain of to see the beauty of God’s purpose for her life.
She is blessed with a husband, who loves her more than words can describe, and two more than adorable little cuties – age 1 and 3 – that keep her constantly on her toes.
I’ve met Kelly and enjoy following her blog. This is a treat to see her here and to get to know you as well! I look forward to sharing your book with other mothers I know would enjoy and I want to get my hands on those ABC cards! They may be for the younger but this young at heart will love them! Thank you for spreading the light of the Lord and spotlighting others! How joyful to see the companionship of sisters!
Very inspiring post!