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My Pretty Little Life

I was scrolling through my Instagram feed looking at old pictures. I love going down memory lane. I think I was smiling the entire time. From sledding in the snow to the crazy creative ways my boys sleep and sit, the pictures brought me so much joy. If you examined my Facebook or Instagram feed, you would see a pretty little life. I live in a nice home, have a wonderful husband, three healthy boys that are doing well, and an insane but funny dog. We are doing good, right? Well, we are doing good in pictures and status updates, or so it seems.

I will admit that life right now is pretty grand. My marriage is in a good place, we are doing well financially, I get to see my sister and dad and their families on a regular basis, I get to stay home and take care of the kids, the boys are happy and healthy, etc, etc. However, life is not always that pretty. Funny how we don't like to show that stuff. I remember when I miscarried for the second time and felt so very alone. I became determined to talk about my grief and pain knowing that there was someone else out there who I could relate to and someone who needed to hear my story. Sure enough, women came out of the wood work with similar stories. It felt good to know I was not alone. That's the thing about trial and pain, we don't want to talk about it because it hurts, yet that's exactly what we need sometimes.

A friend posted a picture the other day of her coffee cup with the beautiful snow covered trees and trail in the background. Her photo was picturesque and one would assume she was having quite the cozy little morning. In reality, her boys were being boys and there was chaos behind the camera. Reality was occurring behind that beautiful picture. And you know what, I absolutely LOVED reading about her reality. It made me giggle and relate and feel a little bit sane in the insane.

I guess what I am getting at is, I've been there. I've seen, felt, and lived financial struggles, losing a home, not fitting in, feeling lost, divorce of my parents, alcoholism in my family, break-ups, make-ups, miscarriages, health scares, marital strife, and the list continues. I don't say this for you to feel bad, but instead, for you to know that behind the pretty little life that you see on the screen is a mess that is lived. And through the mess and the trials and the emotion comes an unprecedented peace and joy that is beyond understanding because of Him. When you are living in the Spirit, you can have peace and joy in the mess.

Yesterday morning, I stood in my dining room looking out the window at the beauty before me. I even opened the door to check out the snow covered neighborhood. I love when it snows. There is such a quiet gentle peace that overcomes the earth. I stood there and looked at the barren trees and the ice covered streets and thought about God and our lives. Sometimes we experience parched moments in our lives that resembles the cold and desolate trees but it doesn't end there. Spring is right around the corner and our lives behind the camera will once again be a reflection of the pictures we post. So, the next time you're scrolling through thinking about how pretty everyone else's life looks, remember the chaos behind the camera and pray that the Prince of Peace surrounds all of us as we journey through this messy life.

"Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

Love & Blessings,
Meg

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