The peace of Christ

Can't hardly believe that it is August already. It seems as though summer just started, but then there are days where it seems like summer has lasted forever. The kids begin to bother each other, more than normal, and my patience is slowly fading as summer does. How much longer can I put up with the arguing and the bickering and the whining and the tattling and the messes and the late nights and the crankies. No need to go on I suppose. Don't get me wrong, I love my children and I am so blessed that I get to spend as much time with them as I do, but when I am also trying to get work done and keep a house clean and about a million other things, it becomes very wearing some days.

I have been hanging out in the book of Colossians lately, it's a great book (I say that about a lot of the books of the Bible, hard to pick a favorite). This evening, after putting the kids to bed, I sat down to read chapter 3, and I must say it's amazing how many times I can read something and still pick up on something new, something that strikes me differently than before.

Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

Words that struck me particularly powerful today. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts," I must admit that the peace of Christ has not been ruling in my heart. I become irritated and short tempered. When four children are all talking at the same time and wanting attention and needing something different and I am in the middle of doing something that I simply must get done, it's exhausting. How different would my attitude be if I really truly let the peace of Christ rule in my heart. And be thankful, be thankful for more of the little things, the moments that I take for granted because they happen everyday, they won't happen forever. I am sure that my days will go much smoother and my fuse will be much longer if I truly let the peace of Christ rule in my heart. That is my prayer for myself each morning that I can live each day with that in mind. How about you?