Stick it Out

     "Mommmm, why do I have to empty the dishwasher?  I just did dishes yesterday."  My daughter groaned as she carelessly tossed pieces of Tupperware onto the counter.  "Don't you know that I am just a kid?  I don't think I should have to do this much work."  This time silverware crashed onto the blue top -- and I sighed.

     It would be so much easier to just do this myself!  I resisted the urge to tell her to forget about it, and I stuck it out as another round of complaining began.  I briefly lectured her on the benefits she would experience by obtaining these skills, but that did not carry the impact I had hoped, so I resorted to the simple answer -- it was something that just had to be done!

     As the last items were put into their place, she surveyed the clean counters and empty dishwasher with a slightly satisfied grin.  I knew she was pleased with the results even though she had not enjoyed the process. 

     "Thank you for doing a good job," I offered, "it looks great."   She apologized for her attitude and then happily skipped off to play, while I lingered in the kitchen for a few more minutes.  My feet felt the coolness of the linoleum floor and my heart felt the enervation from the fight for the small victory won.

     I released a long breath out slowly.

     Many moments of child-training seemed far more significant and intense than this one, I reflected, so why did I feel so battle weary?  I suppose the grander battles were a non-negotiable in my mind -- but this?  I could walk away from doing the dishes alone and not feel badly at all. 

     Smaller tasks appeared easier to excuse because they lacked the feeling of importance in the moment -- but couldn't that be a problem? 

     Life consists of hundreds of small tasks done WELL, not just a few colossal accomplishments under our belts.

     If our children are going to shine in the adult world someday, then this is the training ground NOW.  For me, as mom and trainer, it will be because I held them to the little things . . . that they will be ready for the subsequent roles and responsibilities that God has for them in the future. 

     Sticking it out on the small tasks in the here and now, will make the later a beautiful experience -- for both my children and me.

 "She (or he) sets about her work

vigorously; her arms are

strong for her tasks."

Proverbs 31:17

The Unseen Investment

Just as in the heart of winter when small growth and foliage are completely hidden from sight because of the snow; so is it like our lives as moms, as we pour out our hearts for our families ~ most of what is done in love is hidden from sight.  I have been reflecting on the ongoing challenge of daily and potentially discouraging, household tasks.  You know the ones I am thinking of ~ dishes that get dirty all over again, floors that sparkle for only moments before there are marks across them, meals that are eaten in much less time than they take to prepare and then are soon forgotten, and laundry...that seemingly never-ending laundry. 

If I sound like I am complaining, I assure you I am not - just deeply reflecting and choosing to turn my focus to the One for whom all of this is done.  In fact, in Matthew 6, we are told it is good no one notices what we do in serving our families, because as it says in verse 4, "Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."  What more do we really need?  The part I find the hardest in all the invisible investments we make in our homes, as moms, is that it is hard to measure what we have done, because the lasting benefits are unseen.  I am a goal-oriented personality, and I enjoy a sense of accomplishment in seeing a job well done as much as the next person, but when we are home full-time, that is not something we have the benefit of enjoying very often, is it?

If we tried to measure our sense of accomplishment against the tasks that stay completed, we would probably have to utilize the word "hopeless" somewhere in the evaluation, wouldn't we?  Every time I finish a Monday load of laundry for seven (which is a lot of laundry by my standards), I go through the same experience.  I have huge piles of clean, neatly folded clothing that get dispersed to all the drawers and closets, and just as I begin to feel like momentarily I am ahead of the game - BOOM - I walk past the laundry hamper and it is on its way back to 3/4 full again.  You would think I would have learned by now, but I still seem to hang onto the hope that somehow it will change and for a moment, there will be no laundry.  Not in my near future.

This past week, God brought a new application to an old verse for me and it ties in so well with laundry, dishes, floors and the rest, that I felt I just had to share it.  II Corinthians 4:18 says, "So we fix our eyes NOT on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  I realize this verse has many applications - but I am excited about the laundry application, which is this:  If we try to measure our accomplishments by things that are lasting or tangible, we will forever be disappointed.  God has called us to invest in what is unseen and I feel that, as moms, we do this every day!  Investing in our homes, chores, children, husbands...most of that is "unseen"!  But that is what Jesus has said will be rewarded, and it is also what counts for eternity.  So let's see if we can fix our eyes on what we can't see and find new meaning to the same, old tasks!

Making Beds

What on earth could I have to say about to making beds? Is this a how to? I am sure you all know how to make beds as well as I do, so this is definitely not a "how to" article...this is a mom sharing while surrounded in laundry, changing sheets and beds, dishes, vacuuming and on it goes. This is life and I love it - but I am reminding myself of that today.
Do you ever get times like that? What amazes me is that no matter what we get to do for our families, as moms, it almost all has to be repeated the next day or sooner. I completed laundry for our family of seven, had kids help me put it away and five hours later when I was tucking in kids for the night, the hamper in the hall was 3/4 full already - how is this possible? It is possible because I am blessed with five healthy kids who love to play outside and I should not let myself complain even for a moment...but every once in a while my heart and body grow weary.

What is a mom to do? First, ACCEPT that even though our children and husbands may not notice the clean sheets when they crawl into bed at night - God does. They may not realize that all their underwear is washed, dried and folded neatly in their drawers (again) but God does. Even though they may not remember that they had a healthy breakfast, lunch and supper - God does.

Second, TELL God that we are weary and we need Him to fill us fresh with strength that comes from Him and not from us. Ephesians 3:16 says, "I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being." God is truly right here with us and willing to give us whatever we need to not just make it through the day, but do it full of strength.

Third, REJOICE in the Lord - WORSHIP Him - PRAISE Him and THANK Him. We are a blessed people in a blessed country and our troubles are momentary and light, the Word tells us. As we focus on God and not our situations we will get a glimpse of an eternal perspective. There is a reason that Paul said it twice in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice...The Lord is near."

I need these reflections as much as every other mom - I am ready to go back and tackle all that is still left for this day and tomorrow will worry about itself - God is more that able to carry me through. Enjoy your beds and dishes and cooking, may they remind us of the gifts we have been entrusted with for this time.