What Makes My Kids Cry Today

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  • 📖 Verse: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God… and it will be given to you.” — James 1:5

    📖 Verse: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God… and it will be given to you.” — James 1:5

    By Lizzie @ What Makes My Kid Cry Today

    Real Life. Real Laughs. Real Jesus.

    🤯 Wisdom in the Meltdown Moments

    James 1:5 Devotional

    📖 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” — James 1:5 (KJV)

    💭 Reflection

    There’s no manual for that moment.

    You know the one.

    The meltdown over the blue cup.

    The fight that breaks out during Bible story time.

    The bedtime routine that somehow takes 72 minutes and your last nerve.

    You look around, and all you can think is:

    “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

    And that’s okay.

    Because James 1:5 doesn’t shame your lack of answers.

    It offers something better:

    “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God… and it will be given to you.”

    No overthinking.

    No spiritual checklist.

    Just an open invitation to ask—and receive.

    God is not withholding wisdom. He’s waiting to give it.

    Right in the middle of the tears.

    Right in the hallway where the tantrum is happening.

    Right when your parenting confidence is at zero.

    He offers grace, not guilt.

    Help, not judgment.

    Wisdom—on demand.

    🙏 Prayer

    Lord,

    I don’t always know what to do.

    I don’t always respond the way I should.

    But You see me in the swirl, and You don’t roll Your eyes.

    You offer wisdom.

    Right here. Right now.

    Please meet me in the noise—and help me lead with Your love.

    Amen.

    💛 Take This With You Today:

    You don’t need to have all the answers.

    You just need to know where to ask.

    And He promises:

    When you ask, He will give.

    #James15 #FaithInMotherhood #GodGivesWisdom #WhatMakesMyKidCryToday #ParentingWithGrace #GraceInTheChaos

  • When Life Stinks (Literally)

    When Life Stinks (Literally)

    Friday morning started with a smell I’ll never forget.

    Before coffee, before quiet time, before anyone in my house was fully awake… my dog had his very first run-in with a skunk. And if you’ve never experienced it in real life, let me just say this: cartoons do not do it justice. The smell doesn’t just sit in the air. It clings. It follows you. It fills every space it can find.

    There I was, standing in the yard in my pajamas, frantically Googling “what do you do when your dog gets sprayed by a skunk?” People always say tomato juice, right? Well, turns out that’s a myth. The real solution? Peroxide, dish soap, and baking soda. It dries almost like a flea dip. So yes, that’s how I started my Friday—turning my dog into a backyard science experiment at six in the morning.

    And here’s the kicker: even after all that scrubbing, we could still smell it. Especially on his nose. Every time he came up to snuggle, we got that not-so-lovely reminder… yep, the skunk is still with us.

    When the Stink Lingers

    As silly as it sounds, that morning got me thinking about life.

    Sometimes, our “skunk moments” don’t wash away instantly. The argument, the stress, the mistake, the bill that showed up at the wrong time—they cling to us. We pray, we push forward, we do what we can, but the weight (or the smell) doesn’t disappear right away.

    That’s where Psalm 46:1 has been my anchor: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

    Even when life stinks, He doesn’t run away. He steps in close. He stays present when everything else feels messy.

    Three Reminders for Stinky Days

    If your Monday is off to a rough start, here are three things I’m reminding myself:

    Pause before reacting. Laughter kept me from panicking on Friday. Shift your focus. At least the skunk didn’t get inside the house! Remember God’s presence. Unlike the smell that lingers, His goodness never fades.

    A Word for You

    Friend, if you’re carrying a little stink into this new week, take heart. The smell won’t last forever. But God’s goodness will.

    And if you ever find yourself Googling “what to do when your dog gets sprayed by a skunk,” now you know: skip the tomato juice, grab the peroxide.

    👉 Listen to the full episode here [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-life-stinks-literally–67503525]

  • 😵‍💫 Mommy Meltdown Monday: The Homework Hour Is Not Holy

    😵‍💫 Mommy Meltdown Monday: The Homework Hour Is Not Holy

    By Lizzie @ What Makes My Kid Cry Today

    Real Life. Real Laughs. Real Jesus.

    Let’s talk about that sacred hour between after-school snacks and complete emotional collapse.

    You know the one.

    Homework Hour.

    Except it’s not an hour.

    And it’s definitely not holy.

    It’s chaos on a cracker. And it made me cry in my pantry.

    📚 What Made My Kid Cry Today?

    I told him to write his name.

    Just his name.

    You would’ve thought I asked him to translate the Dead Sea Scrolls into Spanish and then recite them backward.

    There were sighs.

    There were flops onto the floor.

    There were loud declarations like:

    “MY BRAIN CAN’T THINK RIGHT NOW.”

    Same, buddy.

    Same.

    🤯 Cue the Meltdown (Mine, Not Theirs)

    I tried to be patient.

    I offered encouragement.

    I gave a snack.

    I gave a second snack.

    I googled “how to make fractions fun” while whisper-praying for divine intervention.

    But eventually, I snapped:

    “JUST. WRITE. YOUR. NAME.”

    And suddenly I became the villain in the after-school movie no one asked for.

    💡 Real Talk

    Why does this part of the day hit so hard?

    Because everyone’s tired.

    Because the quiet I longed for never came.

    Because no one told me how many feelings would show up at the table with the math worksheet.

    It’s not just the spelling list—it’s the emotional exhaustion of showing up again… and again… and again.

    📖 But Here’s What I’m Learning

    “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

    — Galatians 6:9

    Even if the harvest is just one sentence written without a breakdown.

    Even if the only thing growing is my ability to pause and not yell (yet).

    🙏 Prayer for the Homework Hour

    Jesus,

    Homework hour is hard.

    Give me strength when I want to hide.

    Give me grace when my tone gets sharp.

    Remind me this is sacred work—even when it feels like survival.

    Let my kids see love in my presence, not perfection in my response.

    Amen.

    💬 Final Thought

    If you cried over second-grade math, you’re not alone.

    If you whispered “Lord, take the wheel” in the middle of a reading log, I’m right there with you.

    Homework hour may not feel holy—but with God?

    Even this moment can be redeemed.

    And if all else fails… there’s always snacks.