Giving thanks for work

I'll admit to feeling a bit overwhelmed lately.  We've had more doctors appointments than seems right during the first month of summer vacation.  And in the week ahead, there are birthday parties, an anniversary party, a long weekend away for which to pack and prepare, a surgery to anticipate, and simply day-to-day life with five children all at home.

I've just been getting tired.

But this morning, as I came downstairs very early with my husband, hoping to find some quiet time to pray, God granted me a gift.

It was a small flicker of recognition, deep in my heart, as I looked around at the laundry and unwashed dishes, and scattered toys, that our home will not always look like this.

One day, my husband and I will wake up early, and begin our days with everything in its place because we put it there, and no one else has been moving it around.  And instead of spending our evening laughing at the baby's silly antics (at a time when he probably should be in bed), we will be able to put some things away and have a few quiet moments together.

Of course, no one can tell the future, but certainly one day, our life will look a lot different than it does right now -- and presumably, our house will, too.

And somehow -- surely a gift of God's grace -- as I looked around me at the evidence of our life's fullness this morning, what I felt was not frustration with what it isn't, but gratitude for what it is.  Right now.

I get to spend my days teaching children to clean up after themselves.  And picking up after them myself.  And dealing with the never-ending conveyor belt of dishes that seems to be my kitchen.  And calming their squabbles.  And loving them. And listening to their thoughts.  And sharing in their silliness. And being their Mom.  And being my husband's wife.

And that is all a gift.

When I opened my Magnificat prayer book for the morning, I read this: "Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart." (Ps. 90:12).  This verse reinforced the message on my heart; it spoke to how much the Lord wants me to bring a sense of gratitude to the work that, yes, for now will always be too much for me on my own.  Without Him, it will always be too much -- probably even when my children are grown and gone.

But none of this is forever.  We can be frustrated be what we cannot accomplish, or give thanks for the work we are able to do, and for the people it represents.

This particular work will not be on my plate forever.  And while I do not think I will miss all of it, I do think I will miss the reasons for it!

So as I face today's to-do list, I am going to try to give thanks for the reason it's so long-- for my children, and my husband, and our lives together -- and to ask God to let my gratitude for their lives give me joy in the work I get to do today.