Forgiveness + Etsy News

{My beautiful girl captured by Courtney Vickers Photography}

In the checkout line at Target recently, my five year old asked the lady at the register if she had any of the dog stickers (our target always gives them out to kids). The lady nicely explained that she didn’t. They had run out and were waiting to get more. She explained that she LOVED to give stickers and was so very sorry that she didn’t have any for her. My girl stood there listening and when the lady finished apologizing… she replied with something I did NOT see coming.

With complete sincerity, she said ” It’s OK. I forgive you.”

Well of course, I couldn’t help but squeak out a laugh, as did the lady at the register, and most of the line. My daughter was confused at to what was funny, and in that moment I totally saw the concept of “forgive and forget” from a child’s perspective. Though I know there was disappointment (we all know kids LOVE stickers), she listened, she forgave that there were not any stickers, and she moved on. Easy. I have heard her say this comment a few times since when people apologize for something and while I still giggle, I love how pure and easy it is for her.

There is a reason I am sharing this story today…and here it is. My biggest struggle is being able to forgive myself for choices I make….the silliest part is that EVEN if I know I made the right choice, I have a sense of guilt that someone or something won’t approve. I think that it’s something many of us deal with…we want to “do it all”…without help. And if we can’t do just one thing…it’s tough to forgive yourself for “letting it go”.

I am very excited to be working on a brand new website that I think will have a little something for everyone. I have been working behind the scenes and chatting with a few peers about it, and I am so excited to make it happen…but I know I can’t do it all. My little guy has his birthday party in a week and a half, I am working on some corporate and custom projects, and this year I want to make sure I can do the fun family Christmas activities we love when the kids are off school. I had to find a place to make up time, and decided that I would put the Etsy Shop on vacation for December while I focus on birthdays, holidays, custom work, and A BIG NEW WEBSITE!!! I will still be here blogging and with giveaways and freebies, so it’s only the Etsy shop that will be on vacation (not me). I hate to have it closed so long, but I know it’s the only way to wrap up the other projects and not sacrifice family time. This season I am going to keep reminding myself that it’s ok to forgive myself for not doing it all.

This is the season for joy, peace, and love, and I don’t want to ruin it by being a big stressed out crazy mom…so I am doing what I can do, and forgiving myself for the things I can’t. Then I will simply move on, just like my five year old taught me.