Sometimes we get caught up in the “pretty” on social media.
People mostly post the good stuff.
They post the spotless pictures of their extremely put together nice houses.
They always wear name brand or stylish, trendy clothes.
They are always smiling.
They have the perfect relationship.
The perfect job.
The perfect kids that always do their homework, eat everything they cook, and always brush their teeth. They probably keep their rooms spotless or have a maid clean it for them, and have probably never thrown a tantrum in their lives. Where in our houses, we are the maid.
The perfect moms and dads with the perfect abs, perfect hair, and that always look put together while you struggle to get out of bed some days.
The perfect life.
Sometimes I look at those people and roll my eyes. Sometimes I am one of those people. Just, you know, minus the abs and a lot of other stuff.
Other times I struggle with jealousy that they have the money to afford all that they have. Even though most are probably a lot like the man on the commercial driving his lawnmower around while smiling and saying, “Somebody help me. I’m in debt up to my eyeballs” 🤷♀️
And it isn’t that it’s not okay to post the good things.
But it’s okay to be real sometimes.
Life stinks from time to time.
My house isn’t always “Insta worthy”.
Dry shampoo is my BFF.
Kids….they are so very wonderful but so very trying…You are not a bad parent just because they’re mad at you because you won’t let them have what they want. Those tantrums, hopefully, won’t last forever. We just need strong coffee, stronger will power, and lots of prayer.
People don’t always like to admit their failures, but I’ve had plenty.
They don’t always tell that they struggle with anxiety or had a bad day or whatever. There are plenty of days I feel like breaking.
We sometimes try to look like we have it all together, but I will be the first to raise both of my hands and say I don’t.
Marriage doesn’t work like it does in Disney movies. You probably won’t always like each other. Prince Charming usually comes with some issues, animals don’t come in and clean your house, singing won’t solve all your problems, and, ladies, we may be daughters of the King, but that doesn’t mean we should have the princess mentality.
Being divorced doesn’t make you a failure. There’s grace for you to love and start over again.
Money doesn’t grow on trees and the struggle can be all too real. But what I can say with certainty is even in the moments I do not feel like I feel the Lord with me (because let’s get real on that too. We don’t always feel Him but that’s not usually His fault. He hasn’t moved. We have), He has never forsaken us. He has always provided and taken care of us. We have never gone hungry or been without even when my cabinets have been emptier than I have liked or I didn’t know how I was going to pay a bill. He has helped us through every problem we have ever faced and will continue to be there for us. That does NOT mean life will be perfect. It just means we won’t walk through it alone.
Stop comparing your life to others because comparison really can be the thief of joy. Just because your life doesn’t look like someone else’s doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.
Because even this picture only shows you half a room, and, trust me, it looks like a tornado has gone through it most of the time.
My world will never be all put together or my house completely spotless. My life is often chaotic and messy, but it is full of love and it is lived and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.