Sometimes parenting is just exhausting. Special needs homeschooling is exhausting. It feels like 3 steps forward 32 steps back at the end of exceptionally long days. Mama gets tired and loses her temper, babies get fussy and defiant and act out. Teething, growing, boundary pushing happens. God know it happens, we do it to Him all the time.

Mamas, the exhaustion and the heartache leads to lonely feelings. We feel lost, we feel hurt, we feel tired, and we forget. We forget that we are never alone. We forget that we are never out of His hands. We forget the small victories, the sweet sticky hands holding ours, the blessing it is just to have our sweet babies here on our laps and in our hair. We forget to sing.

There is a joyful music that fills our souls with worship when we remember to bask in His glory. So on the hard days, the days where you feel like you may need stock in Clairol or the worlds largest Hershey’s Bar stat, stop for a moment and remember to sing. Sing a song, sing a prayer, sing 5 minutes of silence hiding under your apron. However you do it, just stop and breathe in the reminder that God is always with you and watching over you.

I keep this plaque and bird at my kitchen window. It never fails that at the end of the day I find myself playing catch up with all the dirty dishes that I lost control over by 9:22 am. And I begin to think of the laundry that didn’t get done, the counting practice that ended with a meltdown, the last 3 nights when Mr. F woke up in the middle of the night and could not be coaxed back to sleep and I begin to forget . . . And then I see my reminder. He cares for even the lowly sparrow and I know He watches me. And then I remember to sing.

Don’t let the day to day stresses take your joy or your song. He is there and He will carry you through.

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know He watches me.

Pick a song, a poem, a verse, a prayer and when you feel the day creeping in on your joy make yourself sing. Find yourself a reminder to place where you can easily see it. And sweet friends, know that you are not alone.

Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.