She means well...

This is something that I have had to repeat to myself over the years. Over the past 18 years to be exact.

My mother in law is a kindhearted, caring and nurturing soul. She really does mean well. But I'm afraid to say that over the years her "well meaningness" has driven me mad!

"I called in to your place while you were at work and noticed you'd taken your curtains down, so I washed them and re hung them for you" Said curtains were ALREADY washed and I was packing them away ready to hang my new blinds. Deep breath. She means well.

"I've just moved your pots and pans back into the cupboard that I used to keep them in, it's much more practical" Kym and I moved into his parents house when we were married. I moved things around to where I wanted them. She moved them back every chance she got. Deep breath. She means well.

"That colour carpet isn't going to look nice for very long" We replaced mission brown with orange swirls with grey. You guessed it. She means well.

"Since you work and you can't keep up with your housework I've done the dishes for you" Deep breath. She isn't judging your lack of home making skills. She means well.

"Such a shame you had to have a ceasarian and now you are bottle feeding" Bite tongue. Breathe deeply through clenched teeth. She means well.

"Haven't you taken that bottle/pacifier/comfort toy away from him/her yet? I took Kym's pacifier away from him when he was 6 months old" No wonder Kym has separation issues! She means well.

"What are Kym and the kids doing today?" This one always comes out at church. It makes me feel like a complete failure for not getting my husband and kids to church. But I've come to realise that she is just asking after them because she cares. She isn't judging me. She means well.

There have been countless careless comments like this over the years. Sometimes they really sting but I honestly beleive that she has no clue when she has hurt your feelings. She just doesn't think. As a mother in law she would do anything for any of her daughters in law. She minds our kids, comes to all the school functions for her grandchildren, worries about us when we are sick, genuinely cares for and loves all of us with all our faults.

Lord, help me to be understanding and tolerant when it comes to my mother in law. Thank you for blessing me with such a loving and caring family and help me to be thankful for that.