Keep your yeast out of my dough.

Something's missing from all my photos this summer. Oh, yes. I neglected to take a single photo of my children complaining, fighting, arguing with me, whining, etc. You know, the stuff that was going on directly before and after I snapped the pic. Fortunately this photo required no actual smiles from anyone.  In fact, frowning was encouraged.  I think it works for us.

Don't get me wrong. There were many, many good times. Soooooo many! But how do you know sweet if you don't have sour to compare it to?? Oh, we know sour around here.

As the boys get older I notice the challenges that come with parenting are shifting. And this summer the challenge was discontent. When you have four kids you know you can't make everyone happy all the time, but when the boys were a bit younger I felt like we managed that a good bit of the time. Ice cream? We're all in! Extra TV? Sure! Swimming? No one says no. But I'm not sure I pulled off a single event this summer that everyone was happy about. There was always at least one kid with a frown on his face, arms crossed in front of him. 

In doing church and volunteer work (or life in general!) there are plenty of happy, supportive voices, but it's the one or two disgruntled ones that tend to stand out at the end of the day.  Why do we always get hung up there?  Why do we give the negative voices the better part of our ears?  Galatians 5:7-10 says,

"You were running a good race.  Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.  'A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.' I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view.  The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be."

The right thing isn't always going to make everyone happy and the enemy is out there, knowing this, seeing this, and using this to tempt our focus away from Christ.  But do not be discouraged, because those voices do not come from the One who calls you. 

I've learned from multitudes of unhappy feedback at work, at home, at school to listen, learn, extend grace.  And sometimes to politely just say, "Please keep your yeast out of my dough."

XOXO....Kelly