Giving thanks for a place of pasture

For more than a week now, I have had at least one child sick with something.  They are on the upswing, but the baby fought hard against a fever that started as he went to bed last night, kept him restless all night long, and thankfully, broke this morning.

It is hard enough to get things done around my home when he is simply his active, happy self.  When he doesn't feel well, needs to be held for large parts of the day, and doesn't sleep well, it feels almost like too much.

But I need to persevere, and it is worth the effort.  That's the wisdom I found in today's readings.

Not that a clean house is worth more than relationships, and definitely not that it's worth losing our peace over (although I certainly have done that!).  But that trying, as we are able according to our state in life, can provide beautiful gifts to those we love.

This verse, specifically, spoke to me today: "Jesus said: I am the gate.  Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture." (John 10:9)

What images does the word "pasture" evoke for us?  Green, safe, nourishing, restful, peaceful, life-giving.  Sadly, there is no place here on earth that we can find those things to the degree we will experience them in heaven.  But, where is one place that we can, hopefully, experience these things to the greatest degree possible, this side of heaven?

Home.

Yes, the work of a mother, of a homemaker (who may or may not work outside the home), may be repetitive, overwhelming, and at times seem menial and endless.  But if we persevere in taking up our cross, and in walking joyfully with the Lord, in doing this hard work, we can provide those we love most with a place of pasture.  A place of nourishment, peace, rest.

So, like the Lord coming to earth quietly, disguised as a mere baby in His mother's arms, this so-called drudgery we face is, in fact, work for eternity.  The fruit -- which hopefully many of us will get a taste of tomorrow, on Thanksgiving Day -- is perhaps one of the closest things we will find on earth to hint of heaven.

Let us give thanks for our blessings!  And for the opportunity to do work which can be a blessing to others!

Happy Thanksgiving!