Holidays can be really rough on mamas! We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do it all perfectly. There's a laundry list of things we have to do to pull off great memories and a meaningful day for our kids and the pressure can warp mommies mood!
Let me forewarn you - Satan HATES Easter and us celebrating Jesus Christ rising from the dead! He would LOVE to ruin your holiday. There are many spiritual battles that we may face tomorrow and we need to be aware and stand firm (Ephesians 6)!
So here's a few practical things to remember:
1. It's the tradition of being together year after year that builds security and love within the family. NOT how big the basket is or how perfectly the eggs are dyed.
2. Be on guard against marital strife. Inevitably your husband is not going to help enough or is going to do it his way not yours. Bite your tongue (till it bleeds mamas!)- be gentle with your words toward your husband - avoid having an Easter blow up - that ruins it for everyone. If there's something that is just way out of line - pull him aside privately or save it until bedtime to discuss (unless of course someone is in danger!).
3. Before you go to bed be sure everyone's clothes and shoes and bows and accessories are out and ready to go in the morning. Put out the breakfast plates and bowls so breakfast is quick - you'll be in a hurry to church and might want a picture before you leave (be sure your camera batteries are charged). These extra few minutes can make the difference between being frazzled and pleasant.
4. Get enough sleep tonight - do not stay up late watching television or browsing blogs and facebook. Be disciplined about your bedtime tonight.
5. Wake up before everyone else and get your quiet time in and shower. I know that might mean waking at 5am but trust me - if you are a step ahead of your family the day will go much more smoothly than if you are a step behind.
6. Pray and ask God to give your family peace and joy today. Someone could wake up sick, get chocolate down the front of their pretty dress, the Ham might not turn out right or your mother-in-law might just say something annoying again. Remember - there is a spiritual battle we are in - pray continually that God will help you to respond lovingly and patiently and peacefully all day long!
I am saying a prayer for all who read this post today - that God would bless your Easter! Stand firm mamas!!!
Ps. 34:3 "O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together."
Walk with the King!
This is linked to A Holy Experience.
Great ideas! Thank you so much! Have a Son filled Easter!
ReplyDeleteThat was a perfect, timely reminder. Thanks!! Easter blessings to your family, from all of us "Ukrainians" here :-)!
ReplyDeleteHolly
Kyiv
Happy Easter Holly Dolly!! You are missed in the states!!!
ReplyDeleteLove you,
Courtney
Thank you for this post. This is just what I needed
ReplyDeleteto hear today.
Julie <><
wish you had posted this yesterday...ha,ha
ReplyDeletejust wrote about what to do when you've blown it.
:)
Happy Easter, Courtney, and God Bless you and your family.
SJB
Great reminder! I was already beginning to feel the stress! Thanks so much and have a blessed Easter!
ReplyDeleteMary Ann :)
Courtney, you don't know how much I NEEDED this post today!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
I linked your post to my blog so others can read it as well. I also copied it and pasted for those I have on email posts so they can read as well. Of course, I have your link so everyone knows you wrote this and not me.
God Bless!
And I thought you were going to show us how to make those beautiful eggs! :) J/K Great tips.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this Courtney. I am struggling right now with not so happy thoughts while trying to pull off our churches agape feast which is tonight. So far, nothing is going how I would plan or do it (thank goodness I am not the one in charge!) I am praying for patience and a happy cheerful spirit at this time of year. Remembering what God has gone through for me! Thanks for this reminder!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder Courtney! I was starting to stress out about tomorrow, but your words have calmed my nerves and reminded me what tomorrow truly is about.
ReplyDeleteHe is Risen!!
Thanks for this Courtney, once again: great reminders!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Courtney! Yesterday I felt a lot of attack and found out most of my Bible study group did too--you are so wise to remind us of our Armour of prayer! Especially appreciated the reminder to hold my tongue ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the beautiful reminder. My mother is the cause of my stress. I would love to read Godly advise on how to handle that. I desire for my children to have a healthy relationship with me when they have families. I struggle because I am unable to show them one. My husband and I have a wonderful relationship with his father. I pray they can see that.
ReplyDeletethanks for the great reminder!!
ReplyDelete-liz
Thank you so much for such a beautiful reminder!! God bless your family this Easter!
ReplyDeletePerfect post. So needed to hear these words of loving rebuke and encouragement. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWow! thank you so much for these tips. I have been busy all weekend thinking and cooking and cleaning for Sunday. This is a wonderful reminder about what's truly important!
ReplyDeleteThank you thank you thank you. Your wisdom and His power will help me glorify Him and enjoy my family. "Whatever happens conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. " Phil 1:27
ReplyDeleteI've been so busy all day as we all have and I thought I would sit down for just a minute to see what you had today. I learned that it was the Lord who had something for me through your sweet words and reminders. Thank you so much. I am going to charge my camera right now!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder (yes it's late I am going to bed :-) Such basic tips put into perspective. Thank you! Happy Easter! He is Risen! Hallelujiah!
ReplyDeleteKellie Barley
I so needed this reminder--I kept repeating to myself Satan wants to ruin this as I I got a phone call from my mom about our plans for tom. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, that was wonderful advice. :) Happy Easter to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteCourtney,because youmentioned #4 I think you may be spying on me! It is something I struggle with but it made it easy to go to bed on time because my husband was home and didn't have to work! Have blessed Easter
ReplyDeleteOh, so wish I would have read this before Easter Sunday! I was on my own (my husband is out in the village for 12 days) with a 2 and 5 year old. Everything that went wrong, did! One child was up half of the night, then slept in until 9. (We can't go to church when daddy isn't home because there is no childcare, so I just have to stay outside with the kids, so it doesn't make much sense.) Everything got behind schedule. One child needed several consequences. Milk was spilt all over Easter clothes and ALL over the floor. It didn't stop there either! I was so disappointed! Now after reading your post, I see who was at work. Why didn't I realize this before?
ReplyDeleteOH Anonymous -you need a big ((((hug))) you are so not alone! I bet tens of thousands of mommies felt like you did today!!! Holidays can be very hard on mommies!!! Remember his mercies are new everyday! Get some rest and trust that tomorrow will be better.
ReplyDeleteMuch Love,
Courtney
What a lovely post....I am, of course, in the late Fall of my life and some of these scenarios do not apply to me now but I do remember...I was so frazzled by the time I made it to church, I wondered if it was all worth it and not just on Easter..of course that was Satan.
ReplyDeleteWhen my children were small...Thank you Lord...we had nursery so that I could hand them off and take a deep breath and enjoy the rest of church in God's Peace....but later we had foster children and attended a church without a nursery so that not only was I frazzled when I reached the church but then I had to try and keep them quiet so everyone could worship in Peace.
Bless you,
Mama Bear
My computer was down this weekend so I'm reading this post on Monday, but I wanted to thank you so much for how real and accurate you are, particularly with this post. I found myself nodding with each point, knowing that I have a tendency to want everything to be perfect for holidays such as this. But this year I relaxed and kept my focus on the real reason for Easter, and I'm pretty sure it was the best (and most relaxing) Easter my family has had. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteCourtney, this was a fantastic post and I'm sorry that I didn't get to read it before.. as I commented on your newer post about things not going as planned.. I should have prayed BEFORE the attacks and not waited until it got so bad. Thank God my husband took charge.. we certainly prayed after! The thing about the enemy is he doesn't sleep so we can't ever let our guards down. Thanks for this great post!
ReplyDeleteLove & Blessings
Basically in holidays is very stress day for moms..that day very enjoyable for kids.. but in festival there are lot of enjoyable moments will happen. This ester, it was very nice.. thanks fro sharing this great moments
ReplyDelete