The Magnolia Story

"The Magnolia Story" by Chip and Joanna Gains

I had heard about Chip and Joanna but never watched their show until my parents gave me the book to read and made me watch their show.  I enjoyed the show and could see why people love them.  The book was just as good as the show.  Chip and Joanna seem to be very real people who love each other and the people around them.  They don't take things too seriously and always try to do whats best.  The book tells about how they met and how they got going on their TV show.  It was amazing to read how God lined things up for them all in His perfect timing.  "And for years my misguided perfectionism robbed both them and me of those moments."  Joanna writes this about how her perfectionism that was never attainable anyway, got in the way of what could have been special moments with her kids.  I began my parenting journey much the same way.  I would get so upset at messes and yell at my kids.  I remember when it dawned on me that perfectionism meant more to me than my children and how mistaken I had been.  When a glass would spill and my kids would be scared of my reaction and apologize profusely I knew I had to change.  What's a little spilled water?  Accidents happen and I needed to remember that I wasn't perfect and couldn't expect my kids to be either.  It changed so much for me, my kids were happier, I was happier and a lot less stressed.  "If you can't find happiness in the ugliness, you're not going to find it in the beauty, either."  We always have a choice and happiness can be found anywhere we choose to look.  "Go and find what it is that inspires you, go and find what it is that you love, and go do that until it hurts.  Don't quit, and don't give up.  The reward is just around the corner.  And in times of doubt or times of joy, listen for that still, small voice.  Know that God has been there from the beginning-and he will be there until...the end."  Keep pressing on, don't forget the voice that lead you there to begin with, He will keep carrying you.