All the things

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I used to do all the things.

Cloth diapers.
Homemade baby food.
Homemade laundry detergent.
Grinding my own wheat.
Fresh baked bread.
Homemade yogurt.

Good grief, overachiever. Calm down.

Tonight I fed my family dinner that a friend graciously dropped off and we ate on paper plates with red solo cups. I buy disposable diapers in bulk at Sam’s club and am grateful Aldi sells Greek yogurt. And those baby food pouches? What a glorious invention.

I still do all the things. The list is just different. And as different things come on the list, something’s gotta give.

Hey you, mama, feeling like a failure because you can’t do what you used to do, or can’t do all your friend does, or what your Pinterest board says you should do- stop it. Stop trying to do it all.

You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you, right? Don’t forget the context of that verse (Philippians 4:13)- Paul is saying he has learned the SECRET of being CONTENT- in any and every situation. What’s the secret? He can do all things through Christ. Whatever Jesus has given him to do. In that season, in that situation, he can find contentment.

You don’t need to do it all. I don’t need to do it all. All I need to do is what He has given me to do - this day, this situation, this season - and I can find contentment when I unlock the secret: I can do all things through Christ.

How do we do it all? We can’t. But if I am doing what God has given me, and not what Pinterest or my mom-guilt tries to load on, I can.

So I’m putting my feet up. Drinking water out of my plastic solo cup. And reading a book even though there’s more I need to do today. I will rest because I need to rest. And I won’t stress out about all the spinning plates - I can do all things, all the things He gives - with contentment, in His strength alone.

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