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A Mother's Moments With God

πŸ›’ I skipped tax-free weekend (and I don't regret it)

Published 20 days agoΒ β€’Β 4 min read
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Hey there, Mama,

Oh my goodness β€” it's August! Or shall I say halfway through August πŸ˜΅β€πŸ’«

For many of us, this season means one thing: back to school. Whether you're sending your little one to kindergarten, dropping a teenager off for their first day of high school, or making that emotional drive to a college campus β€” this time of year is bittersweet.

There's the excitement of getting your house back (and maybe β€” just maybe β€” a lower grocery bill). But then come those mommy emotions that sneak up on you when you least expect it, reminding you that your babies are growing up and needing you a little less each year.

And on top of all of that? The hustle. The school shopping. The never-ending debate about whether to brave tax-free weekend.

This year, I made a decision: I wasn't going to do it. I intentionally stepped back from the chaos and chose to move with ease β€” getting what we needed when I felt led to, not because the calendar or the crowd told me I had to. And honestly? It felt like freedom.

I believe that's exactly what God desires for us, to move with ease, not out of obligation or anxiety. And this month, I want to sit in that truth with you.

Devotion: Ease Over Haste

Scripture

"Ignorant zeal is worthless; haste makes waste."
β€” Proverbs 19:2 (MSG)​
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Have you ever been rushing to get somewhere β€” or to get something done β€” and in the middle of all that hurrying, you ended up forgetting things, making mistakes, or falling short anyway?

That's exactly what our scripture today is talking about. Haste makes waste. The very thing we're trying to accomplish with excellence gets undermined by the anxiety driving us. When we rush, we move in circles. We backtrack. We lose focus. And the goal we were chasing ends up further away than when we started.

In the King James Version, this scripture goes even further β€” it connects moving in haste with sin. Think about that for a moment. Have you ever been in a rush and snapped at your kids, even though they didn't do anything wrong? That's the fruit of haste. It pulls us out of grace and into reaction.

God's desire for us is different. He calls us to preparation over procrastination β€” to move thoughtfully, intentionally, and with peace. Preparation is never wasted time. It positions us to serve others with excellence and to glorify Him in everything we do.

Haste makes waste. But preparation paves the way with ease and peace.

Take a Moment to Reflect

Take a moment to reflect:

  • Where in your life are you currently moving in haste rather than ease?
  • Is there an area where anxiety is driving your decisions instead of peace?
  • What would it look like to choose preparation over procrastination this week?
  • How might slowing down actually help you serve your family and others better?

Pray: Lord, thank you for desiring that I have peace instead of anxiety. Forgive me for times I move with haste and fall into sin. Give me wisdom to prepare, so that I can move through life with the ease of the Holy Spirit, and your peace that surpasses all understanding. In Jesus name. Amen

Happy August: Adjusting to Transitions with Grace

Back-to-school season brings its own kind of chaos β€” new routines, tax-free weekend budgets, and a to-do list that never seems to end. In this post, I'm sharing three simple tips to help moms move through this transition with a little more grace and a lot less overwhelm, because you deserve peace this season too.

Mom Tips: Choosing Ease This Back-to-School Season

  • Make your school shopping list early so you can shop on your timeline, not the crowd's.
  • Give yourself permission to skip the chaos.
  • When you feel the rush creeping in, pause and take three deep breaths before reacting.
  • Pray before your mornings get busy β€” even five minutes sets the tone for the whole day.
  • Remind yourself: a rushed mama and a prepared mama both get there. Choose prepared.

Faith-Filled Affirmation For the Week

"I move with ease, not haste. I choose preparation over panic, and I trust that God's pace is always the right pace for my life."

Closing Encouragement

Mama,

As this new school year begins, I want to encourage you to release the pressure to do it all perfectly and all at once. Back-to-school season is busy enough without adding unnecessary anxiety to it.

God hasn't called you to hustle. He's called you to be faithful β€” and faithfulness looks a lot more like intentional preparation than frantic rushing.

So take a breath. Make your list. Say your prayer. And move with ease.

You've got this...and more importantly, He's got you.

With love and encouragement,
Karen 🀎

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A Mother's Moments With God

Helping Christian Moms Pause & See God in the Everyday Moments

I'm an author, entrepreneur, and Christian therapist from the state of Texas. I love encouraging other moms in the everyday moments of motherhood and their walk with Christ.

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