"Sometimes, Life Just Isn't Pinterest-y" -wise words by my mom

        I am queen of over-romanticizing. Most women are, let’s be honest.  I knew marriage would be real-life, but somehow I thought once that diamond ring slipped on my finger, bad-hair days and zits would become a distant memory.  Having a baby? My pregnancy fantasies consisted of Sam and I sitting in front of the Christmas tree cuddling with a quiet, swaddled baby.  For the future, I envision a family of five or six, always showing up to church on time, each child with a smile on their face, dressed in their Sunday best. And of course they would come home to a Pinterest-worthy home, every pillow in order, every crevice wiped clean.   The cooking, of course, I’ll have down by then, surely.  My husband will come home every night from work to the aroma of a home-cooked meal with five-minutes to go in the oven.  His hot wife (Mhm, that’s me… someday) will be standing over the oven in her perfectly toned body, full of energy after a fun, educational day with the kids.

Are you laughing yet? I am…

            Don’t tell me you’re not guilty of this, too, though.  Logically, we know life is not perfect and our bodies, homes, and families will always fall short.  But there’s always this whisper of “Someday” lying to you that if your life goes this or that way, you will be a success.  Perfectionism.  That unspoken pressure, that anonymous tyrant, that unbearable burden… reminding you daily of the life you could- no, the life you should- be living.  Perfectionism is the invisible barrier between us and deeper breaths… uninterrupted rest… lives full of joy and contentment.    

“For godliness with contentment is great gain…”

            I think we believe this.  I think the problem for me is often that I interpret godliness to be perfection.  That’s false.  Godliness is closeness to God, and closeness to God is satisfaction fully in Him despite the flaws and frustrations of each day.  Do I need to strive to grow as a gracious woman, caring for my family and keeping my home restful? Yeah!  But, sometimes, I need to just laugh as I dunk my daughter in the bath for the second time in one morning to get the peanut butter out of her hair.  Sometimes, I need to just snap a picture of my half-naked Christmas tree, relishing in the season I have where my toddler will steal ornaments placed too low, rather than attempting a Pinterest-perfect Christmas card.  Sometimes, I need to just call my husband to pick up pizza on the way home and not stress over the fact I didn’t have time to make dinner. 

Sometimes, life just isn’t Pinterest-y.  And the sooner we accept that, the sooner we can sit back, put down the camera, and take in the unglamorous, yet extremely-satisfying moments of life.