Last night I shaved my legs. And…let’s not kid ourselves…it’s rare that I take the time to do that. And it made me wonder…why? Why do I not take the 90 seconds that it takes to shave my legs on a regular basis? It’s not like it takes that much time. I mean…it’s 90 seconds. And the answer came…almost as fast as the question.
Because it just grows right back.
And that made me realize how much of my life is spent processing and believing that way. I’ve been in a lazy rut. I have been leaving dishes on the counters. I’ve been leaving laundry on the floor. I’ve been leaving dog and cat hair un-vacuumed. I’ve been leaving dust on the furniture. And I’ve been dissatisfied with that. I’ve been irritated and irritable because our home is out of order. And I’ve also been questioning why I’ve lost my drive. And the whole “shaving of the legs” thing answered the question for me.
It just comes right back.
I had gotten so tired of spinning my wheels to accomplish these jobs…these jobs of the home maker…with no feeling of accomplishment. Nothing is ever done. There is no check mark I can put next to “do laundry” that tells me I completed something. Because the clean clothes aren’t put away before the laundry baskets are full again. The minute I dust the furniture…it starts accumulating again. The minute I vacuum or sweep the floors…the dog and cat run through and there it all is again. I pick up the poop in the backyard and Boom…there it is again. I find myself sitting down at the end of the day to rest from a job well not done.
And that is very dissatisfying.
That’s when I realized that I had to change my inner dialog. My goal can’t be to cross something off of my list…because the same list just comes right back. So…it reasons that if my goal doesn’t change…then my satisfaction level won’t either.
My goal has to be radically different. It doesn’t have an end. Whoa. What??? I don’t get an A+ for my hard work?? I don’t get to cross things off my list?? I don’t get to be finished?? What’s the point of even having it, then? My answer became clear to me. My goal is not to finish my work. My goal is to do my daily work to honor and please God. He is not concerned if I get to cross laundry off my list. But He is concerned if I am working with willing hands. What makes my work accomplished is if I perceive it as profitable and let my attitude follow. It will make a big difference in my thinking. Of this…I am sure.
I am meditating on this verse from Proverbs today:
“She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”
BAM.
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We have fully experienced Winter. It is down right cold. Coats and mittens are cute and all…and I can get down with a wool hat and scarf like nobody’s business…but I’m gonna be real. My soul is longing for warmth. I dream of stepping into soft grass and feeling the warmth of the Spring sun on my skin. I want to wear shorts and tank tops. I want to put the Ugg boots away in exchange for a new pair of brown flip flops. I want side walk chalk to stain kids clothes and a gathering of friends on the driveway at night. I want to replace hot tea with lemonade. Even my posture appreciates the promise that Spring brings. Instead of my arms being crossed, my head bowing and my body closing up to protect myself from the cold wind…my arms swing, my head lifts and my body opens up to appreciate the warm breeze. We have had some glimpses of it…and I have forced it is some ways. I bought the girl’s new, green bows in preparation for St. Patrick’s day…willing it in my mind.
And don’t get me started on my new clear, bubble umbrella.
Favorite shots:
She has entered the Lego phase of childhood. It keeps us inside and warm.
All the kids had friends over except for her. There were many little sister tears of being left out until we decided to make cookies for everyone…giving us a good reason to bring out the bunny apron. Spring softly whispers.
Spring whispered again with this magical umbrella…worthy of a loud and proud “THREE CHEERS FOR SPRING” chant.
We took full advantage of our random “warm” day. The boys all did their thing…
…and the girls did theirs, which was spying on the boys doing theirs. They are devising a serious, yet stealthy plan here. It’s very hard work being a girl. Those boys don’t give them that much material to work with. That is…until they realize that they are being watched. Then they turn up the “interesting” a notch. This particular scene on this particular afternoon was right out of a Judy Bloom book…which made me particularly happy.
Happy Valentine’s Day. We are working hard over here…making boxes and such.
So…until Spring arrives in all it’s glory, I light this Warm Woolen Mittens Candle…and bask in the Joy that the Winter Olympics bring. Because who doesn’t love the Olympics? And further more…who wouldn’t love a candle with the name “Warm Woolen Mittens?” I mean. Seriously.
