This Monday’s kitchen was extra messy. The reason being that Elvin and the children did most of the cleanup Yesterday, Mother’s Day.
As I worked in my quiet kitchen, I marveled at how quickly we went from Daddy and 2-3 young children bringing me a bouquet of flowers and breakfast in bed to a Mother’s Day production that spans multiple generations and feeds more than a dozen people.
I remember the in between years where there was no break for Mother’s Day because we had a few children that we fondly called ‘two parent children.’ They always needed two parents; one fully engaged and one ‘on deck.’ There was no rest for either parent for what seemed like half a decade or more.
These children, the feral ones, made violet sun tea in my kitchen while I rested on the patio this weekend. They promised that there would be no mess at all!
They proudly brought me their creation, ‘sugar water with a hint of violet’ poured over ice, a slice of orange balancing on the edge of a fancy goblet. We sat and enjoyed the tea, and I went on my way, puttering around the yard as the sun went down. An hour or so later I entered the kitchen, ready for a shower and bed when I stepped into something sticky! One step, then two and three, every one of them sticky! I paused, my hand on the countertop to take a deep breath and found that surface sticky too. My eyes scanned the kitchen to find over a dozen sticky dishes, measuring cups and goblets waiting to be washed up. Two and three deep breaths, still frustration welled up within me. Five, six, seven, now I was at the front door ready to call the culprits of the sticky kitchen into repentance.
The culprits, their moment of domestic or romantic inspiration over, were back to their feral selves racing the motor bike through the far field. Knowing that my whistle, loud and shrill that it is, would not be heard over the motorbike engine, I went to my shower and bedtime routine. This gave me plenty of time to ‘cool my heels’ and by the time the sun set, and the feral ones came indoors I was able to simply be stern and remind them of their promise to clean up after themselves. I told them about sticking to the floor and reminded them where the mop was.
At bedtime prayers, they apologized for not cleaning up properly. One saying, “I am sorry if the mess ruined your day mom!” I reminded them that I had been practicing not letting messes of creative children ruin my days for over 20 years now and if I still was not getting it right every time, then I surely could have grace for my children when they did not clean up perfectly every time too!
I remembered many times when I hadn’t kept my cool over messes, Where I had scolded my children’s childish way of cleaning up, my heart was heavy and I started to condemn my younger self, wishing I could go back and allow my older children to make messes again. But then I remembered my very own words of grace to the ones tucked into bed and remembered that as I love them, my heavenly Father loves me even more, and if I, as a parent am good enough to offer grace then how much more grace does God offer to me?
And then I tucked the feral ones into bed. Noticing the dirt behind the ears and on the feet and reminding myself that they would need an extra shower before Sunday morning church.
And then for Mother’s Day we made pizza on the patio and over a dozen dishes of topping spread out on the table, I stayed busy rolling out dough and Elvin putting personal pizza’s into and out of the pizza oven and I smiled as big kids and little kids together made a huge mess on the patio. Messes are easy to clean up!
Get the recipes for our patio pizzas here
Happy Mother’s Day, may you practice grace with your self and your feral ones.
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COPYRIGHT © 2025 RUTHANN ZIMMERMAN
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22 Responses
Amen! Don’t blink… blessings Kiddo!🌿💚👵
Thank you for this gentle but conviction reminder!! I love this. I have been really asking the Lord to help me have more grace and patience for the messes, my little blessings make. “Where no oxen are the crib is clean”.. my husband reminds me of this verse often. 🙂
This just reinforced my Bible Study this morning about God’s love for us even when we stumble. There is no sense in hiding in shame, for God is loving, kind, and gentle and we can come to him asking for forgiveness without being scolded. We pray to be more Christ like, yet we are human and will err, but what peace we have knowing He will always walk with us through our errors. Thank you for sharing your humanness and vulnerability!!!
Love it!!! Thank you Ruth Ann <3
hI Ruth , i am a new member on your site , i subscribed and i still dont see any recipes coming in my email , only things on the farm i love that also very much but when will i get some recipes plz , i see lots on utube but they dont come to me as a memeber wondering why ? love you and all you do Happy Mothers day
Recipes are here on the website now! But also on Instagram and YouTube!
Such a wonderful Mothers’ Day post, Ruth Ann! This really hit home. Memories of past celebrations and of current ones. Yes, messes are easy to clean up!
My children are in their 30’s and there are times that I wish for a do over.
I LOVED THIS BEAUTIFUL STORY! Thank you for sharing it.
I am a generation older than you. Your parenting abilities are so much better than mine were that I always feel such shame when I compare them. I loved, love my children so much. I would “take a bullet” for them in a second. But my angry ways for most of my life affected our relationships. I weep a lot over it now. I cannot forgive myself. I grew up in a dysfunctional situation with an alcoholic abusive father. He beat our mother and kept us terrified of him. I don’t know if my anger and vengefulness was nature or nurture but I regret is so much I can’t stand it. Miraculously, our children still love me. I have tried to change my ways and stop reacting badly to things. I thank God that I have not destroyed my loved ones and that they still love me. I wish I could lose the guilt. I cry so much. I love your videos and all that you do. Please stay genuine.
God bless you!!!
God knows that you did as you knew how. You are so loved and held by your Heavenly Father.
SWEET, RUTH ANN! GOD BLESS YOU, ONE AND ALL.
Hi Ruthann, I am new to your blog and your channel and just want to thank you for the content that you make. I am a homemaker and mother to a three year old, so I definitely understand how messy things can get sometimes, and the grace we need to extend to our children and ourselves. Happy Mother’s Day!
Words of wisdom🤗🙏🙏🙏
We always seem to give grace to others before ourselves. All we can do is our best and pray for God’s grace. I have trouble giving myself grace as well. Thanks for the reminder.
An absolutely beautiful reminder!❤️
Ruth Ann, I absolutely loved reading this post. It brought both a smile to my heart and a tear to my eye. Hug those feral babies.
Love the website! You’re a great mom!
1st thank you for all you share, I learn and enjoy so much!♡ 2nd I am sure most of us would like some do overs, but I remind myself that I can make a better ending. God bless everyone 🙏 ❤️
Positive thoughts and love.
Late Happy Mother Day to you Ruth.
I see you coming Tn Columbia TN on June 6 met & greet on your book. Is there a code or something. Love sees you. Only 1 hour from house. I way older than you. I can’t sleep good at night. So, YouTube channel knows i like list to. You are so down to earth. I love listing to you guys. gods bless you into my life thank you. Ruth. I have YouTube too. Jennifer Duck or Daisy duck.@daisyduck61
Hello! Here’s the link to purchase tickets to the launch! Hope to see you there! https://ruthannzimm.com/the-heart-of-the-homestead-book-party/