Convictions, kids that don’t let their moms chat and healthy food perfectionism

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone amount you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.

1 Corinthians 3: 18-19

Happy Friday!

I felt compelled to write today about something’s on my mind so bear with me, some thoughts may be for you and some may not. Take what you will and leave the rest-

1. I am of the mind that having beliefs is not the same as having convictions. I have witnessed over the years how many a person will possess beliefs that they don’t necessarily live by. I hope that such beliefs are realizations and ideas on the way to becoming convictions that in turn lead to action. Nevertheless there is certainly a difference in my opinion.

   Having convictions can be a lonely existence. They often require that we break off from the herd, live unconventionally and stand for something. I think that’s perhaps why so many people stay in “belief” land. It feels good to feel right, but it’s not as lonely as being “set apart”.  I imagine all of us are lurking in the “belief” zone for many a principle…hanging out while we figure out who we are and what we are willing to do with regard to a specific value. It’s part of the process. But to all you women who have taken the steps to have convictions and live accordingly, it’s hard. It’s often lonely and it’s unpopular. I’m praying for you today and I know our good God can provide a community of like-minded people for you. Stay strong and steadfast.

2. Mamas who let their kids hang on them, interrupt them, demand their attention when there’s another adult present, please hear this. Your kids don’t need you to meet their every single need all of the time. They don’t need your undivided attention constantly. They don’t need you to let them hang on you when you are trying to have a conversation with another person, especially a woman trying to befriend you. Teach them to give you your space and respect your need for conversation and connection too. Instill in them self control. Let them learn to respect your need to focus when in conversation.

   I see it so much lately, children that suddenly need they mother’s undivided attention when she is trying to connect with another adult. I have even addressed it a couple of time when it was particularly egregious behavior on the part of the child. I don’t believe that children should be  “seen and not heard” by any means, but they need to know their place and if they can’t respect adult conversation and connection and your need for it, nip that crap in the bud. It’s control and manipulation and it makes children anxious because they are testing you and you are showing them that they hold the power, what they went goes.

   “The adults are talking, go play” or “do not hang on me right now, I will attend to your needs when I am done,” or, “You will respect me and my time with my friend right now by going and playing while I visit,” are all acceptable and living things to say.

   I know you’re trying to keep your cool, be loving to your kids and feel like a good mom, but you need friendships too and you need to show respect for other people’s time and effort to get to know you.

   You’re in charge. You will all will feel better and your friendships will grow as well if you assert that and lovingly set some boundaries. Hebrews 12:6

3. Perfectionism in food is stressing many a woman right now. 1 Timothy 4 talks about the danger of abstaining from foods God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who know the truth-and I think this is something we health-minded women need to remember.

   While I do believe it’s our responsibility to be wise and discerning about the foods we purchase and feed our children we also need to live with respect to the limitations the Lord has allowed to exist in our lives. The Most High knows you.

   He knows your finances.

   He knows your geographical and time restrictions.

   He knows whether you and your husband agree on and prioritize the same things.

   He knows the stresses of your household. I am one hundred percent positive that He never wants perfectionism in food to become an obsession, stressor or a point of contention in our marriages. If we went to clean up an area of our lives, invest more time money and effort into eating better and procuring more healthy foods, the best thing we can do is to:

1. Speak thanksgiving for what we have

2. Ask the Lord to show us how to eat better and what to eat-there is LOADS of false health information out there on this topic, best hear from the Big Boss, Himself.

3. Pray for our husbands and ask the Lord to work on His heart so we can be in alignment on these issues.

I can tell you the things I see women doing that are NOT working and not God-honoring:

1. Spending money they don’t have on expensive albeit better quality  food and then having to fight about it with their spouse

2. Killing themselves trying to homestead and grow all their own food and creating strain in their family

3. Trying to do too much all at once instead of slowly transitioning to knew food strategies in the household giving time for everyone to adjust and for budgets to shift.

4. Beating themselves up for not eating as “clean” as their friend or favorite influencer and letting that incapacitate them

If you are trying to eat a more nutritious diet on a budget, here are some simple things to try:

1. Buy good marrow bones, animal parts (nose to tail) and make broths or stocks from them to add to any meal you make with lower quality meat. This will help boost nutrition while not breaking the bank. There is a lot of nutrition in animal parts that most people don’t eat and when cooked down to a stock or a broth they can be easily added to lower quality meals for a boost!

2. Buy frozen vegetables to add to most meals. Frozen vegetables (organic or not) retain higher levels of vitamins and minerals  compared to fresh produce. So while you start to establish your gardening or canning game, or work to shift your budget to include more fresh fruits and veggies, buy frozen. Steam, purée, stew and confine at most meals.

3. Make your own bread. It doesn’t have to be sour dough. Maybe it’s not even organic at first, but simply baking bread at home avoids aflatoxin and lots of preservatives. FRESH milled bread contains 40/44 essentially nutrients. Look on Facebook marketplace for grain mills and bread makers-if that’s your jam. Fresh milled flour is alive and helps with myriad issues, and it also keeps kids full for longer due to the bran and germ content. Learn more about milling flour here: https://www.breadbeckers.com

If Walmart meat and frozen veggies are what you got, bake some bread, make some good quality meat stock and praise God for His provision. He can make all things clean and bless the food He has provided for us in the name of His perfect son.

I pray these ideas find you well!

They are my opinions, convictions and thoughts and meant to be taken as such.

Xoxo,

Sarah