Hero Up!
The other day at church, I overheard a friend say to my husband, "I don't know how your wife does it, man, she must be wearing a cape under there!" It struck me funny because he and his wife also have four kiddos, and she is an awesome mom. He must know em' when he sees em' I suppose. What may have warranted his comment was that I have two boys not quite two years apart who were running around like crazy that morning. (It is a dynamic I refer to as the constant play date gone bad, and no one is coming to pick up the other kid.) Coming from this man, I took it as a high compliment, and of course, it got me thinking, "Yeah, I wish I had a cape on under here."Sometimes as a parent, I deal with sassy little boys, girl drama, and teen hormones all in one afternoon, and it can leave me feeling defeated and discouraged, even powerless at times. I have often wished that the Super Nanny would come live with me, and I could just point and say, "Ok.. what would you do then, and then, and what about that?" Somehow I think I need more than a British babysitter and her "Naughty Mat" I wish I could channel some sort of "higher power" in my moment of crisis, like when Clark Kent sees danger and urgently looks for a phone booth to transform into Superman, or when David Banner has had enough of being Mr. Nice Guy, and justice must be served, so he turns into the Incredible Hulk. Something, Someone greater than my own human abilities. Alas, the Super Nanny isn't coming to live with me, and I have no superhero alter egos. Sometimes I actually feel like Kryptonite is being thrown at me, but all is not lost, help is on the way and has, in fact, been here all along. Here are a few ways to tap into your supernatural strength!
Know your power source and tap into it. God's supernatural power is available to you. Call upon the Lord, pray to Him, and He will answer you and be with you in times of trouble. The Bible says that those who seek the Lord will understand all things and can do all things through Christ who strengthens them. I can understand all things and do all things? Now we're talking!!
2. Get a cape. Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength, they will mount up with eagles wings, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not grow weary. Isaiah 40:31
3. Put on some armor. Use things like Truth, Righteousness, Peace, and Faith to protect yourself from evil things in the world and even to combat your own negative thoughts. Ephesians 6:10-18
4. Know your enemy. The Bible says that I am not fighting against flesh and blood but against powers, worldly forces, and darkness. Yep, sounds like this day and age to me, and when I remember that my children are not the enemy but rather evil and temptations, issues, and attitudes are, my focus changes from one of despair and defeat, to one of prayer and persistence. Something about having a specifically defined target that empowers me. If you have never turned to the Bible for encouragement and support, let me tell you, it can make a world of difference. If you are familiar with the Word of God, let me remind you of the peace and power at your fingertips. All the answers may not come to us right away, but we can be encouraged, focused, and prepared to fight for our families, knowing that God is powerful and on our side.
"Not everyone is meant to make a difference.
But for me, the choice to lead an ordinary life
is no longer an option."
Peter Parker - a.k.a Spiderman