Good morning.

Have you ever wanted to ask, “What’s so good about this morning?” I know I have.

When my boys were little I pretty much lived in a constant state of defeat. If they were awake, you could bet that I’d already blown it. How in the world was I supposed to wake up feeling happy when my waking was their fault in the first place? If they’d just let me sleep a little longer, I just know I could be a nice mom. It’s what I believed day after day.

What made matters worse was that I held on to the previous day’s failures. And the day before that. My failures piled higher than the laundry and it stunk. Man, did it ever stink and I didn’t know how to change. It seemed like the parenting books worked for everyone but me.

My boys and I both needed a fresh start every day. We needed mercy.

Mercy is a powerful gift if you’re able to receive it.

Mercy empowers us to forgive and to be kind. Mercy allows us to have compassion on another human being. Mercy is a life-saving gift from God. Mercy is required to love others well. Mercy isn’t forced on us. Mercy is Jesus himself.

Mercy is a soothing balm for this irritated, overwhelmed, and just plain tired mother. Sometimes simply whispering the word mercy is enough to calm my spirit. Mercy ushers peace into the chaos.

His mercies are new every morning.

Today you and I get to start fresh. And tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that…

…This I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”–Lamentations 3:21-24 NIV