Why I'm OK with Not Having it All Together

With three boys around our house, I feel we are always having “discussions”. Our time with these guys is limited. As I’m staring down my nose at 9th grade preview days and signing up for college tracks (What?!?  When do preschoolers sign up for 9th grade?!?) I’m really reminded that the days are fleeting.  In fact, our oldest son has a little over four years left under our roof.  Four years.  Gulp.  

There is so much I need/want these boys to know before I launch them into the world.  Several weeks ago I was having a “discussion” with one of our boys.  He had had a particularly tough day with being disrespectful to me and being rude to his brothers.  I brought him into the kitchen, sat him down, and began our “discussion”.  It started with me telling him that this behavior he was displaying toward me and his brothers was unacceptable.  And it ended with me saying something like this, complete with hand motions, 

“You have four years left in this house.  Before I let you leave I need to know three things.  I need to know that you love God, respect authority, and can love others.  Based on the way you’ve been treating me and your brothers I have serious doubts.  You know what I need?  I need you to get it together.  FOUR YEARS SON!!”  

Fast forward a few days.  I was pulling into our garage and thinking through a particular situation where I was struggling and it was as if God tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Looks like you don’t have it all together.” Yikes. 

Isn’t that so true?  I want my boys to have things together when I, myself, don’t have it all together.  Do you know how freeing it was to wash my hands of everyone around me having it all together?  Aren’t we all just works in progress?  In my 38 short years, I’ve grown and experienced things that God has used to mold me into who I am today.  Perfect? Absolutely not. Saved by grace?  You better believe it.  I can rest in that.  I can live in that.  And you know what?  So can my guys.  So, here’s to all of us walking in grace and not having it all together.  Here’s to the bumps, bruises, stubborn refusals to yield, the good, the bad, the ugly, the blood, sweat, and tears…all of it. Rest and live with me friends because He is able…even when we don’t have it all together.  

Need some verses to remind you of this?  I’d encourage you to read these in context to really take in the full meaning. But, in the meantime, here are a few: 

“For I am confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6, NASB

“But the Lord is faithful.  He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3, ESV

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23, ESV

“Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth and it stands fast.” Psalm 119:90, ESV

About Jennifer

​Jennifer and her family live in the South. She and her husband, Fred, have three boys ages 13, 10, and 7, and one unruly dog named Dash. Chaos2Peace is a blog designed to bring peace in the midst chaos by providing organizational tips, menu planning, simple recipes, and a whole lot of laughter. Join us on the blog today as we do life together, one step at a time.

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