Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Whobody?
Jeff, looking into the toilet: "Whobody flushed?" (I guess that's as good a word as "somebody"?)
Saturday, October 2, 2010
much, much soap
One day Jeff wanted me to refill the foamy soap dispenser in the bathroom. He said, "There's not much!" So I said, ok, you may find the soap in the cupboard. So he pulled out the refill bottle and said, "Here's much much soap!"
It's so easy to see only the weariness of motherhood (of little ones) -- the constant "Mommy!" calls... the listening to some litany of something that matters to some child, while at the same time trying to remember the other things your mind was juggling at the moment... all the physical needs of little ones that demand Mommy's doing them (dressing, bathing, getting food ready, bathroom needs, brushing teeth)... more arbitrating between two who fuss at each other, more reminders to love one another, more frustration at the sin so evident from sinful hearts... it can be hard to step back from all that in order to rejoice at the little things of childhood, so fleeting. The things that make older mothers say "enjoy this time!" because they miss those little things, and wish they had enjoyed them more (though they don't necessarily explain HOW to do that while dealing with all the little "trials" at the same time). The funny things kids say, the childish likes that will disappear soon, the trust in parents. It's easy to "not have time" to sit holding my child or reading to her. To make all the urgent things become more important than what I'll really wish I had done with my kids while they were little.
Sometimes it takes seeing what I don't have, to make me thankful for what I have. I don't (as far as I know!) have a child with a terminal or chronic illness. I don't have widowhood. I don't have barrenness or infertility. I don't have a husband who gambles away his paycheck or comes home in drunkenness or anger. My children are not AIDS orphans in Africa, with no hope and no help. I have the means to feed them (that's an understatement) and a place for them to sleep. And physical health to get up and care for them and (try to) manage our home, and homeschool. And most of all - I have Jesus! I have forgiveness through Him for all my sins! And therefore - even if I had all those things I don't wish for, it would be ok. Because I have Him.
Oh may I remember this. Day to day, moment by moment. I have Jesus! And what He has called me to do, is be here, now, to be a wife and a mother, to my family. To do it, for Him. If I remembered that more often -- looked up instead of down or around me -- then I would be so much more happy and content.
It's so easy to see only the weariness of motherhood (of little ones) -- the constant "Mommy!" calls... the listening to some litany of something that matters to some child, while at the same time trying to remember the other things your mind was juggling at the moment... all the physical needs of little ones that demand Mommy's doing them (dressing, bathing, getting food ready, bathroom needs, brushing teeth)... more arbitrating between two who fuss at each other, more reminders to love one another, more frustration at the sin so evident from sinful hearts... it can be hard to step back from all that in order to rejoice at the little things of childhood, so fleeting. The things that make older mothers say "enjoy this time!" because they miss those little things, and wish they had enjoyed them more (though they don't necessarily explain HOW to do that while dealing with all the little "trials" at the same time). The funny things kids say, the childish likes that will disappear soon, the trust in parents. It's easy to "not have time" to sit holding my child or reading to her. To make all the urgent things become more important than what I'll really wish I had done with my kids while they were little.
Sometimes it takes seeing what I don't have, to make me thankful for what I have. I don't (as far as I know!) have a child with a terminal or chronic illness. I don't have widowhood. I don't have barrenness or infertility. I don't have a husband who gambles away his paycheck or comes home in drunkenness or anger. My children are not AIDS orphans in Africa, with no hope and no help. I have the means to feed them (that's an understatement) and a place for them to sleep. And physical health to get up and care for them and (try to) manage our home, and homeschool. And most of all - I have Jesus! I have forgiveness through Him for all my sins! And therefore - even if I had all those things I don't wish for, it would be ok. Because I have Him.
Oh may I remember this. Day to day, moment by moment. I have Jesus! And what He has called me to do, is be here, now, to be a wife and a mother, to my family. To do it, for Him. If I remembered that more often -- looked up instead of down or around me -- then I would be so much more happy and content.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)