Martha Stewart doesn’t live here.

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Wruitten by Heather Riggleman of Mama Needs A Time Out 

This week’s video:  http://youtu.be/yI3hr3HzGJk (watch it, you get a peek into Jill Savage’s home). 

When I step out into public, I am well dressed with my skinny jeans, boots, and tailored coat. My suburban is washed and the kids pile out one at a time to their prospective places. Behind my dark Paris Hilton sunglasses, I wave a well manicured hand to a mom across the parking lot before hopping back into my Suburban and heading home. images

What most people don’t realize is this: Only moments before entering the public, I pulled on my jeggings (these are God’s gift to women because they look like jeans but are in fact stylish sweat pants), shoved sunglasses on my face as I cry out the warning call that mom is serious, “Get your rears to the suburban before I lose my last thread of sanity!” As I march the kids out the door, we trip over towels and dirty clothes in the hallway, passing by the dishes hidden in the sink while I shove my bare-feet into my boots.  My nails have been lacquered so I don’t bite them below the cuticle and I whisper “Thank you Jesus” for the bug-eyed sunglasses fashion which hides my puffy, bare face.

Is it just me or do us moms know how to pull of the perfect look? Most moms who meet me assume my house is always clean, that I’m calm, centered, and cook all meals from scratch. The truth is, I would love for you to come over, but don’t open the closets, ignore the fur on the floor and for pete’s sake, don’t judge what I eat. 

Our homes are supposed to be our sanctuaries, each uniquely created for the family that dwells there. Since when were we supposed to pull a Martha Stewart in every square inch of living space? Granted I would love to keep my house clean, fashionable and well maintained but there just isn’t enough hours in the day. I’d much rather be silly with my son and line up his cars in a domino line, or play angry birds board game with my 4 year old and admire the 10 foot mural my artistic 13 year old drew on her wall. 

The fact is, our home is our dwelling place–our home sweet home. And when we embrace our run down, cozy, cluttered space, we accept grace. And when we accept grace, we begin to truly live. So put down the comparison war and embrace grace! 

Dig Deep

1) What’s the oddest/grossest thing you’ve found in your child’s
bedroom?
2) What room of your house is hardest for you to manage? Why?
3) Have you changed your expectations about your house in anyway? How has it helped you to
love your real house?
4) What is one thing you highlighted/noted as you read this chapter? Why did it strike you as
important?
Apply
Select one antidote on pages 161-164 you will apply this week. Brainstorm some practical ways you can
apply the antidote this week in order to embrace your imperfect home.
Write I Thessalonians 5:18a, “Give thanks in all circumstances,” somewhere where you can see it
regularly this week.
Pray
Father God, thank you that we live in a place where we have more than enough. We have a roof over our
head, a soft place to sleep, warmth in the winter and cool in the summer. Help us to change any
negative messages in our head about where we live and to give thanks in all circumstances. In Jesus’
Name. Amen.

Stephanie Shott
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