The Hot Mess Perspective

Amanda Meyer
Aug 19, 2020
3 min read

July 14, 2020

"At least you're not a hot mess - you’ve got your crap together. "

I heard this from a friend yesterday.

I want you to know - I don’t.

Some days sure… and boy do I feel so good at the end of those days! It’s like WOAH! I’m a good mom! I got all the things done AND I worked out!

But you guys… what it comes down to is - PERSPECTIVE.

Right now I just walked out to go get a snack for the kids and saw this:

Toys on the floor

Homeschool stuff everywhere

Lunch dishes

Cucumber peelings and apple core pieces still on the cutting board

Bowls of fruit all over the counter

And yesterday's big dishes that still need to be washed

I almost took a picture

Oh, and hey, I have laundry in the washer and dryer AND I didn't shower again today! Like everyone else.

There are days I see the mess and I lose my mind.

Then there are days where it’s no big deal because I know we will take care of it later.

Now am I emotionally together - this takes A LOT of hard work. I am a big roller-coaster of emotions. Like many people, I put off things that may stress or freak me out. I scroll social media or watch Netflix too much when I have the I don’t wannas. But on the day to day - I try really hard to focus on the blessings. My current task at hand is to speak these blessings out loud. If I don’t focus on being grateful for all the things the Lord has given me I fall into those blahs. If I feed my loneliness, I just end up more lonely. If I fuel the negative things that come to mind - I fall down like everyone else - AND this happens OFTEN!

Do I have it together spiritually? I know a lot of people who look at me and feel that I am so grounded in my faith. But, I know how I feel on the days that I doubt or that I want to give up. Again, it comes down to perspective. I dig into God’s word, like really dig a couple of times a week and read devotions or just read the word pretty much daily.

And then on occasion, I don't read for a week at a time. This gets messy. To some - this is having it together. To me, it’s trying.

How about with Fitness? These days - I walk. I monitor my steps on a fitness tracker because that is ALL I can handle on a regular basis. Sure, I want to do more and some days I do actually accomplish more. BUT, I am not in a season of taking the time to be in the gym or up super early to work in a killer workout. And I choose to be OK with that.

You see - as a mother who wears many hats, I have to decide what will be on the list and what will not. You are the only one that can decide how much can be on your list friend. You are the only one that can decide what makes you feel like a hot mess. But I want you to all know - we all feel like a hot mess - maybe not every single day.

Now… this is what I want to remind you. It’s ok. Because although we can’t make everything work perfectly each day - God isn’t asking you to be perfect. He is asking you to be willing to do what He sets in front of you to the best you can. Love those kids, care for your home, run that business, take care of your body. You may not be qualified - BUT HE IS! He will carry you through this season of feeling like you just don’t have it all together.