Stacking up the pretty, but unused plates, I decided to go ahead and leave the holiday napkins right on top where I had put them earlier that morning. Maybe I’ll get to use them next year. I might as well just leave them so they are ready. I tried to think of something positive to push out my thoughts loaded with disappointment.
Thanksgiving morning wasn’t what I thought it would be. If fact, it was nothing like I had planned.
When I had whisked together the sunny eggs earlier that morning, I hadn’t picture myself moving the breakfast casserole from the oven to the refrigerator. There just wasn’t time for the peaceful meal together that I had envisioned. Now, we needed to scurry and get to the day’s celebration. Besides, my son had texted to say he wouldn’t be able to make it. Eating with the empty place setting would have just made me sad.
Maybe next year I thought as I slid the rarely used clear plates back into the upper-most cupboard.
Me and expectations. Even now I cry as I type this days later.
Expectations have always been a big struggle for me. There is a war inside me, caught between the mom, daughter and wife I want to be and the reality I hear rattling around in my mind.
You’re not appreciated. Why do you try so hard? my negative thoughts battle for ground against my positive thoughts. It’s not their fault. Don’t make a big deal out of it and ruin the day!
And so I struggle. There seems to be no middle ground. I’m either failing to communicate my expectations or I over set them.
Yet, Jesus says there is hope for me and for you, too, if you wrestle with unmet expectations as well!
Jesus promises us that each day, if we choose to set our expectations on Him, instead of on others, He will keep His work that He has begun in us going.
“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
Every day we are becoming. If we place our confidence in the right place, the One who has begun the work, we rest knowing He will finish the work of making us more like Him. And making us into the mom He wants us to be. One who displays His character, the fruit of the Spirit, even as we struggle. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23
So today, I will choose to be confident. Confident that He will do in me what I cannot do in myself – make me more and more like Him. More compassionate. More loving. More gracious and merciful. More flexible and unselfish. More like Jesus. Working on me and in me until the day when He returns.
My part is to focus on the good; to be thankful.
My whole family did have some special moments together … it was just a few days later. And unlike Thanksgiving Day, our annual tree cutting day did meet my expectations and we had a wonderful time!
Some days will come through. Other days won’t. Be it either way,
Jesus, keep working Your completion in me and help me to set my expectations on You and not on others!
What are your hopes and expectations as the holidays approach?
What can you do to help set those expectations in the right place as the holidays get closer?
Want to learn more about the fruit of the Spirit? Get “Magnetic: Becoming the Girl He Wants” and learn more about the “captivating characteristics” with your girl!
- What Do You Expect? - December 17, 2015
- The Best Time to Make Up Your Mind - November 12, 2015
- Mom – Never Give Up! - October 15, 2015
