Continuing to learn

I posted awhile ago about seeing chores as blessings and I had another little lesson.

We had numerous people over to our house for a baby shower that my friend had, and at the end of the festivities the house was a mess. I was so exhausted that night to tackle much of it, but I did what I could and promised myself that the little I accomplished was good enough and the rest would have to wait. The next day I began to tackle the chocolate cake stained tile, sticky counter tops, sink full of dishes, and unorganized clutter. I had to remind myself of my hopes to change my perspective on such tasks and I looked at them from another angle. The floor was filthy from family and friends who took the time to come here and celebrate in the anticipated arrival of a new baby. The dirt drug in from the soles of shoes was carried by people who love us and as I swept it I said a prayer of thanks for that dirt. The cake spilled around the kitchenette table was from my 2 precious nieces who are an absolute joy to be around. They also left soaking wet towels after their bubble bath in our bathroom, but seeing them in there giggling and playing, happy and healthy was worth the mess. I was able to babysit them after the baby shower so their parents could have dinner out together. Now my sister owes me one, that's a blessing ;)! The same stories go for the dishes in the sink and the clutter on the floor....I was again amazed by the end of my chores realizing how boring life would be if I didn't have messes to clean. Just 24 hours ago the walls echoed with laughter, anticipation, and love....how could I have ever been so blind to see it any other way. I'm often like that, I think a lot of people are. We want to be a part of and soak in the good stuff, but whine and complain about the necessary work that goes along with it. We want it our way on our terms when it's seldom about us to begin with and it can cause us to miss the very best parts.

I'm ashamed it has taken me so long to see it and I hope I'm wise enough to remember it next time I'm anxiously overwhelmed by chores.....speaking of which, my daughter's room is a disaster and it's bothered me for days....I think it's time to let that one go until I can get to it with the clear mind of my new found perspectives. Why are things like this that seem so simple when I write it out so hard to overcome? Life really is a battlefield of the mind and it's a daily fight that I need to remember to equip myself for with Godly armor.