Last night, our family watched Moms’ Night Out.

When we watch movies, typically, we find ourselves identifying with a character.  For me, it was the mom of three small children who seemed to be in a constant state of stress and control freakishness.  She made me realize, I’m not the only one who gets uptight during a customer service exchange (“Like, THIS pen, or THIS mouse thing for my computer, or like, ‘Hello, you want a reservation for THIS Saturday night, tonight?”).  Or, playing out the worst case scenarios, feeling like you are not enough and wondering who might volunteer to be your personal assistant, and the most agonizing thing?…… When you think you’ve got it all figured out for yourself and everyone else, and someone tells you that you’ve messed up–“stop trying to fix this!”  Really?!

I read in my devotional this morning from I John 3: 1

“The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God.  And we really are His children.”

I guess God knew we would need reminding, or His love emphasized–“We REALLY are His children!”.

The main character, during a pivotal moment noted, she seems to never be able to get out in front of “it”.   We all know this feeling.  It consumes us.  It rears it’s ugly head.  It is ever before us.

God reminded me of this verse

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  Deuteronomy 31:8

Every character in the movie represented a potential life spot, or struggle.  The “it” we deal with.  What I loved most of all was the honesty and openness of talking about it, and being real with each other.  No ones’ “it” was worse than the others, or judged to be so.  It just was.

My husband made a comment while watching the movie, that it was stressing him out to watch. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm …..I resisted the urge to say, “It’s what I deal with!” This is it!  This it, is what I’m talking about!  I’ve had an “it” week.

I remember when I was 30 something and one of my children, who loved to play, “I’m going to get lost in the store and hide, then go to customer service and have my mom’s name announced over the intercom.”   In this local store, I had a woman in her 80’s, with her daughter, shopping, who shared with me how terrible it was for me to lose track of my child, and to be more careful.  I unleashed.  I reminded her how quickly we forget how hard it is to raise children.  She got the lecture of a lifetime. Me, 30 something, unleashing my knowledge on a grandmother. They both left the section of shopping fearing for their lives!

In the movie, the pastor’s wife noted, these are just “little moments”.  You are going to be okay.  I have a friend who calls them “special moments” in life.

I’m glad I serve a God who goes before me, and is God of all my moments–even when I fail.  I may fail, but God does not call me a failure.  I am His child….I REALLY am His child…..