A lesson I was reminded of during Bible study yesterday. Today I woke up looking for my, "That was EASY button." Couldn't find it. The only thing I found was an exhortation in God's word that a wise woman builds her house and with her own hands a foolish one tears it down. I've also been feeling either condemnation or conviction and I'm having a hard time discerning between which one it is. Condemnation on the kind of mom I am, the kind of wife I am, the kind of house I'm keeping and the kind of influence I am or am not having over these boys we've been entrusted with. Or is it conviction from God to be a hard worker and manage my time well?
Emptiness was consuming me this morning. So was insecurity on the kind of job I'm doing day to day around here. I sat in this chair and tried to allow God to fill my thoughts and heart. He showed me sweet things. There are things I have to do to be productive. Sitting here first thing is the most important thing I do all day.
Then I have to get dressed, put my shoes on and make my bed.
Then I have to face the giants. Do you want to know what I felt when I opened this door? ANGER. Yep. I was just irked to the nines that this was what was in my future for today. Stinky, dirty clothes. Again. I opened the washer to get things started and it was full of washed clothes. I opened the dryer and it was full of dry clothes sitting there getting wrinkled.
Then I rounded the corner and there was popcorn on the floor. The floor that I swept and gave a quick wet mop right before bed last night.
I had to step outside for a minute into the frozen air. I was looking for a sparrow believe it or not. There were none that my eyes could see but I could hear them singing.
There are no short-cuts. 10 years ago Shane and I sat at a Family Life Marriage Conference newly married. A woman got up and shared her story about her days as a stay at home mom. Her husband asked her what she did all day long. The next day her husband came home and terror gripped him. WHAT has happened? The faucets are all running. The toilets are not flushed. Peanut butter, jelly and chips are all over the kitchen. TV's are on. Clothes are covering the floor. It is mass chaos. He walked out onto the back porch and there was his wife, laying on a lounge chair, sipping a fruity drink. HONEY, is everything OK? Yes she replied, today I did not do anything. This is what life looks like when I take the day off.
As I was sweeping up popcorn at 9:30am this morning because the kids already needed a snack because they were hungry even though we had just finished breakfast I was reminded of that story. I was reminded that there are no short-cuts. As much as we'd like a short-cuts life required hard work. There is a time to work hard and there is a time to rest and enjoy the fruit of your labor. For raising my boys to Love the Lord and walk in his ways the fruit of my labor won't be seen for many years maybe. In the meantime I'm going to do my best to make use of training them every day. Being watchful and mindful to carefully discipline them. To speak truth into their lives on a daily basis even when my mind tells me they are too young to get it. They get more than I realize. Being intentional to pray truth over their lives.
Influence, just like salt shaken out, is hard to see, but its flavor is hard to miss. Pam Farrel
One thing I have discovered is that when I keep doing the next right thing I get to enjoy the fruit of my labor.
I don't know what you've got on your plate today but I wanted to tell you that if you are feeling the struggle of finding the joy in today I hope you are encouraged that God is not far away. You will reap what you sow so be a hard worker today. Allow God to put in and take out whatever he wishes. Look at your babies in the eyes today and listen to them tell you about Spiderman again. Embrace the monotony and find the joy in it.
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 2 Corinthians 4:7
7 comments:
Good reminder! I am having a good, productive day, but those bad days can pop up when you least expect them!
Ahhh...you just spoke my mind for many a day. Last week I told David all I really wanted to do was eat fast food and watch tv. And it really was all I wanted to do. But laundry beckons, kids need lunch, and a home longs to be tended to so it can be a haven. So I made another turkey sandwich and got to work. Mad about it at first, but then God restored my joy and my purpose, but it was not without a fight.
My kids are all gone today...and I've sat here and read and prayed and journaled...my natural tendency is to tend to a million "errands"...that today, will have to wait. I'm glad I fought the dragon off today.
You are not alone!
Thank you for the reminder of a quote seared into my thoughts. Althought I haven't thought of it lately, it's still there. "There is no short-cut to any place worth going." Love you bunches and appreciate your wisdom more than you know!
I have a huge pile of laundry waiting for me when I get off work. I've been dreading it all day. Thanks for this.
thanks for lending me a helping hand today and for telling me it is ok to grab chick fil a every now and again...
i am now a princess in my bathroom and i couldn't be happier.
hugs.
Wow! That was such a dose of wisdom. Thank you for being so open. I have felt so unmotivated and like life is just passing me by while I am stuck in this house surrounded by chores....totally overwhelmed. Thank you for a Godly perspective. Now, off to fold laundry I go with a thankful heart. I love you Sis!
Oh my! I think we had the same day yesterday. Different details, but same lesson learned. Another reason to love you, friend. thanks for the encouragement and reminders.
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