Make it Awkward Devotional

By Gina Vento

 I gotta say, I wasn't a huge fan of the theme this year, between the off putting colors and the seemingly random objects and animals, it just wasn't my favorite. It was, well, awkward. But I will say, the sub themes struck a chord with me this year. This year my little girls are 3 and 4. It has been challenging to say the least. My hardest year as a parent. To be completely honest I didn't enjoy a lot of this past year. Between the early wake ups, no more nap times, bedtime struggles, and constant messes I have felt pushed beyond my limits. Add in a husband who works 6 days a week and the girls and I getting sick nonstop and it was a recipe for overwhelm and burn out. Yet, God met me where I was at. 

I feel like each of the subthemes, Enjoy the Joy, Speak Kindness, Audacious Faith, and Own your Story were lessons God wanted me to learn this past year but also carry into the summer. 

Enjoy the Joy 

I like that it says enjoy the joy rather than choose joy. Enjoy the joy has the connotation that there is joy to be found, we just aren't always delighting in it. This summer my goal is to particularly enjoy the joy of childhood, to see things through the eyes of my children, to take delight in the developmental stage they're currently in. Too often I find myself either wishing I could go back to their infancy where they would just snuggle all day or wishing they were older and more independent. To be honest I spent a good portion of this year just coasting, letting my kids watch TV and scrolling on my phone for hours. It became a coping mechanism when I felt inadequate in parenting. But it only made things worse. Now I'm not saying you can never go on your phone or let your kids have screen time but I realized that I was losing precious time with my girls and it hurts my heart a little bit to think of how many hours I squandered just numbing myself. My goal this summer is to find beauty and joy in every day. To get outside more and admire what God has created. Sometimes I get so preoccupied with the ugliness of this world I forget that there is still so much beauty. And in a similar vein, the MomCo theme explanation puts it this way: "To be absorbed by joy means releasing the constant need to control, defend and strive". So enjoy the joy will be a big theme for this summer, letting go of unrealistic expectations and finding joy in my current season. 

Speak Kindness

Our words play such a vital role in the lives of our children. We have the power to either encourage and build someone up or to put down and utterly destroy someone. This subtheme is so important. We should Speak Kindness to everyone, including ourselves. Our thought patterns matter and they impact how we live. Have you heard about the study they did with plants? Where they said insults and mean things to one plant, said compliments and kind things to another, and left one in complete silence. Amazingly the plant that was insulted, withered and drooped by the end of the 30 days. The plant left in complete silence did even worse. The plant that was complimented was absolutely thriving by the end of those 30 days. If plants thrive on kindness, how much more do you think people, especially children do? The MomCo theme explanation said this: "A kind word spoken at the right moment is life-altering. A home filled with encouragement instead of yelling and criticism is medicine to the soul. Our kids are listening, and the words we speak over them will shape who they are becoming. Words change the atmosphere; they impact our biology, and they can bless and curse. Let’s reclaim the power of our words by choosing kindness." One challenge to do is to make the commitment for a month to say something kind to the same person every day. You also commit to not saying anything that would put them down or criticize them. See for yourself the difference it can make. Let this summer be a summer of kindness.  

 

Audacious Faith 

I learned to trust God more this year. From reading God's word consistently I have started to understand His heart more. I saw a big difference in the days I read the Bible vs the ones I didn't. I started to depend on God more. Instead of giving in to anxiety I made it a practice to go to God. When a need arose, instead of freaking out, I went to God, expecting Him to answer, trusting His will. I saw so many prayers answered this year, in mind blowing ways. This summer I have faith that God is going to work in incredible ways. I don't know what that's going to look like but I have full faith in Him. The MomCo theme explanation said it this way: "Having Audacious Faith means to posture your life around expectation and allow God to stretch your faith. Trust him with the wildest dreams of your heart. As Christine Caine says, “Don’t be afraid to ask your Father for anything.” Dare to do something new." This summer let's be willing to do something that scares us a little, is a little uncomfortable, but is something we feel strongly about, feel led by God to do. 

Own your Story

I relate to this subtheme as a chronic over-sharer, haha. But I actually used to be very very quiet growing up, very private and reserved. Even as an adult I have struggled with confidence and insecurity. It has only been in the last few years that God has given me the courage to share my story. Mainly because I am so grateful to God for what He has done. To me, Owning your Story means being willing to share. That might look like sharing something you've been through in the past or maybe it's a current struggle that you could use support with. I've found that sharing tends to have a domino effect, helping others feel more comfortable to share. Owning your Story can lead to a stronger community. From the MomCo theme explanation, "Our stories find healing in community, and we help others heal when we are honest about what we have experienced." This summer, even though we won't be having consistent meetings, let's not hesitate to reach out to each other. Let's be willing to take the first step and own our story. 

This year didn't go the way that I thought it would but I'm grateful for the way God worked, even in my failures. He is the ultimate example of unconditional love, patience, and kindness. He gently reveals areas in my life that need to change, not because he's trying to punish me but because he wants what's best for me, for me to live to my full potential. I'm excited for what this summer holds, I'm gonna take it one day at a time. May it be a summer of joy, kindness, faith, and courage. Through God's strength we can: Enjoy the Joy, Speak Kindness, have Audacious Faith and Own our Story.