The "uglies"...

(sigh)  It started out as a great morning.  The sun was shining, the kids were up and getting ready, it was going to be a wonderful day.  How quickly the evil one likes to step in and derail us from our happiness.

The sun was actually shining so bright this morning, that at 7 am I had one of the kids turn the TV on to see what time it was, surely it couldn't be 7 am with as bright out as it was.  You see, it has been raining here for quite sometime.  When I wake up in the morning and look out my window, I automatically expect to see overcast skies with at least a little drizzle coming down.  The ground is saturated with standing water, basements are taking on the fluid as well, and it seems we are just waiting for the ducks to move in!

Now, back to my original story...once we figured out that yes, it was the right time, I asked (OK, told) the kids to each get their footwear on and any sweatshirts/jackets around they would be wearing today.  With 20 minutes left before we needed to leave, I went to the computer to check my email (and yes, my facebook updates as well).  We were running on such a good schedule this morning, it felt like we had all the time in the world.

I warned the kids when we had 5 minutes until leaving time, and then I announced when it was time to go.  Well, the 9 year old couldn't find the socks I told him to put on 20 minutes ago, so instead of looking for them, or coming to me for help, he decided to sit down and read his new book.  He was not ready, to say the least.  The two 7 year olds failed to inform me that their hair was still wet and it needed to be dried.  Let alone, only one of them had their sweatshirt on.

And then it happened...the "uglies" set in.  Now this is a term I learned in one of my bible study sessions, and it is the only word I now use to describe my behavior sometimes.  The yelling, the cajoling, the stressful nastiness that sometimes creeps up, usually on school mornings when we are running late.  It's not pretty, it can bother me the rest of the day, and it is definitely the "uglies". 

Why did I spend that 20 minutes on the computer?  Why did I allow those situations to stress me out?  Why did I lose my temper?

Because I am human, and I am flawed.  I could spend the rest of my day feeling guilty, allowing the devil that foothold in my life.  But instead, I rejoice in the forgiveness of our Lord, and His promises of renewal. 

Isaiah 57:10
You wearied yourself by such going about, but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’ You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint.

Titus 3:5
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

So I ask you this morning, are there "uglies" in your life that you need to put to rest?  Lay them at the Savior's feet, the only true one who can wash our sins away.  He does not promise us it will be easy, or that we will never let our "uglies" show.  But He does promise that we can have new beginnings, if we only ask for them.  A fresh start is always welcomed, just like the sun breaking through the clouds this morning!