Now if I could make peace with dusting...

In the mid-90's, before HGTV and reruns of Grey's Anatomy, when I was still a stay-at-home Wife/Mom, I made peace with the laundry.  It wasn't my idea, it was God's.  

One day I sat on the couch folding socks, tee shirts, and underwear.  Placing them just so.  In neat little piles.  For each member of the family.  As I did every week.  I was happy to serve them.  I believed it was a priviledge to be a SAHW/M.  Mostly.

But Doubt and Resentment began whispering from the shadows of Mostly.  They were familiar companions, having taken up residence in my heart Before Children.  Often their relatives, Fear and Loneliness, would join my pity party.  Boy howdy, that crowd sure knew how to scratch my itch.  They even brought the Kleenex. 

Once again I'd forgotten to bring my concerns to God.

But His Son, Jesus, Who made Himself a servant,
just 'cuz He loved me,
(and you,)
lifted me out of the slimy pit,
gave me a firm place to stand,
and put a hymn of praise in my mouth.

I called to mind the precious people who wore those warm-from-the-dryer clothes, wondering how their day was going. 

News Flash:  It's not always about me. 

I thought about:

how hard my husband always worked to support us.

how happy I was to be married to him.

the pressures my kids were facing in middle school and high school. 

the temptations which assaulted them all.

the pride that burned in my heart as each of their dear faces came to mind. 

the love and laughter we shared...and the tears.

how my heart sang to the melody of their voices. 

the satisfaction I felt, body and soul, after dining with them each evening.

how I loved baking fresh, warm cookies for them. 

And pretty soon, don't ya know*, I was prayin' for each one of 'em while foldin' their clothes.  Layin' my laundry list on the altar of praise and thanksgiving.  Emptyin' the pocketful of treasures I'd found on my faith walk with Abba [Daddy].  

And those treasures gleamed like the sun, dispelling the shadows of Mostly. 

By the time I finished, my soul was still.  The pity party had been cancelled due to sunshine.  I knew the job of folding laundry as a SAHW/M was important to my Abba.  After all, it gave me the opportunity to talk quietly with Him.  And those prayers for my loved ones were a sweet, sweet sound in His ear.  

I'd been weaned from spiritual milk that day.  I was stepping heavenward to a more mature relationship with Jesus.

With maturity comes responsibility.

"[Karen,] Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, Who made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant..."

Philippians 2:5,7

"He lifted me [Karen] out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God." 

Psalm 40:2-3

"For you [Karen] did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father'."

Romans 8:15

"...I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother...Oh, [Karen], put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore." 

Psalm 131:2-3

Grace and peace to you, dear one.

Love, Karen

*P.S. Ja, okay, now.  I promise.  No more talkin' Minnesotan in the middle of a post.  Maybe.