“Mommy, can we not argue this time?”

Oh how these words made me beam with pride and sting with conviction all at once.

Five year olds? They’re so hard. Like, really freaking hard.

She triggers my irritation like nothing else. I mean dang, is she STUBBORN.

But you know what else she is?
Sweet.
Sensitive.
Compassionate.
Full of love and grace.

Oh my goodness, is she full of grace.
More grace than her mama, that is for sure.

And sometimes I find myself completely at my wit’s end, screaming at the sky, “I’m just so tired of fighting with this child!!”

But you know what God faithfully reminded me of today?
So is she.

Maybe I’m not the only one so burnt out from raised voices and bad attitudes.
Maybe I’m not the only one who feels defeated by disrespectful tones and unkind words.

Maybe, just maybe, her little heart is just as weary as mine.

Because yes, she’s stubborn. She’s exhausting. She’s disobedient way more often than I’d like.

But let’s be honest. So am I.

Oh my goodness, so am I. And praise the Lord that He never runs out of grace for me.

God, help me do the same thing.

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