I am not a fan of the Stewart Smalley “I’m Good enough and Smart enough” affirmations. Nor do I find the Christianized versions of those appealing. I can’t relate and it feels very uncomfortable and forced. So me, being me came up with my own.

Day 1

I woke up today and did not Praise God for another day. I stumbled to the coffee pot , then my computer and checked my e-mail. God loved me.

I fed my children Captain Crunch instead of whole grain oatmeal. I was tired, my kitchen is a mess, there were no morning devotions. God loves me.

Even when I was nose to nose with a naughty little boy, giving him the “mean Mommy” face and scolding him in a too harsh tone. God loved me at that moment.

When I got frustrated with my 1^st grader and her fidgeting during school and snapped at her, making tears well up in her eyes . God loved me.

My home is not clean, I am back numbing. dry-eyed, bone weary over the top tired. I have no patience, no kind words for anyone. Pitching it all for a career looks good.  God loves me.

Today when I looked in the mirror and saw my nasty, mean Aunt Ann staring back, no worse my cousin who played for the Chicago Bears and wished I was pretty and tiny and soft and feminine, and looked anyway but how I look.God loved me.

When I shooed away my children over and over again, because I was too selfish to give them a listening ear.  God loved me.

When my husband snapped at me and I did not react in love, but with equally harsh words of my own, and an argument ensued. God loved me.

When once again I fell into bed without reading His word God loved me.

I praised God for another wonderful day. God loved me

I spent time in His word today and found peace and direction for my day. God loved me

I baked bread and made oatmeal for my children. They awoke to praise music in the house . God Loved me.

I see the beauty and kind heart in my perpetually naughty 7yo boy. We had a lot of fun putting a puzzle together today. God loved me.

I allowed my squirmy 1^st grader to do her reading on the deck and praised her for finishing on time. God loved me.

My kitchen is clean today and the washer and dryer are humming with activity, I have some extra energy and patience for my crew. God loves me.

Today when I looked in the mirror I saw a slightly middle-aged, round Mama. I wasn’t expecting Julia Roberts to appear. But I thought maybe I am looking a little like my beloved Gram. God loved me

I read to my children today. God loved me

When my husband snapped at me I reacted in love and he softened. God loved me

I fell into bed tonight and whispered a quiet prayer of thanksgiving for the laundry and the dishes and the noise and the chaos. Because I am blessed and God loves me.

After a day like Day 1, Do Day 2 and repeat.

None of us fall into the Perfect Christian category. All of us struggle here and there. Regardless of what the world or even fellow Christians think of me. God does indeed love me. He loves me even though He really does know my heart. I amazed and so very grateful!