Right now I am sitting on my couch. On the smaller couch, there is a pile of clothes waiting to be folded. The only noise in the house is hum of the dryer. My sink is full of dirty dishes from dinner. The kitchen table is strewn with items from a Kindergarten craft project. The kitchen floor also has remnants of the project. Ribbons, paper, and a few sequins are tossed about under the chairs. Today was full of activity.
About the time I was cooking dinner and the kids were constantly asking me for help, my husband texted me and asked me what made me smile today. I couldn't think of a thing. Not one thing came to my mind. It wasn't a bad day. It wasn't the kind of day I want to repeat, either.
Speaking of the day, here's my sweetheart at wal-mart today:
That picture speaks for itself, doesn't it?
I've gotten bogged down with my situation lately. That's the crux the matter. I'm just barely keeping up with the basics that I need to get done. And, it frustrates me. When I can't keep up, I can't accomplish more. By that I mean, I don't have time to read or learn something new. I feel stagnant. I have a hard time writing. In fact, I keep starting to fall asleep right now- just because I've been sitting for a few minutes. I am being challenged in very basic, shallow ways.
I was reminded today that being thankful keeps us from focusing on what we don't have.
With that in mind, I am forcing myself to jot down a few thankful thoughts.
I am thankful for the little things:
1. coffee
2. groceries
3. Christmas lights
4. creativity of kids
5. my phone
6. bedtime prayers with my kids
7. sleep (oh my word, I think I'm going to go to bed early)
8. soft cuddly blankets
Sweet stars! I think the sandman is calling my name. I keep falling asleep.
The point of this wordy post is, I'm bogged down but not conquered. I will press on and I am committed to cultivating a thankful spirit. I am thankful for this Thankful Thursday exercise and how it challenges my heart.
4 comments:
JJ-I think you are amazing-xoxo,AJ
Thinking of you - love how you always find something to be thankful for!
And in the midst of it all, you inspire me . . . even when I don't take that time to be grateful and write it down. Lest I wallow in guilt for what I haven't done:
I am thankful for:
1. You
2. A healthy family
3. God's grace
4. Coffee
5. Unexpected smiles from surly children.
6. God's provision, though not for more than today. He's teaching me that's all I really need.
7. Christmas decorations, jewelry and clothing that I only see one time per year.
8. Lunch with my son and his friends at school. They make me feel like a celebrity every week.
9. Friends who stand in the gap.
10. Our church families.
Jane Anne~ Thank you for being faithful even when you don't feel like it. You minister to me from afar.
You're doing a great job, Jane Anne. I admire your ability to get so much done, to have such a great time with your kids, and to keep your sense of humor. I'm not sure I'd be able to do that...especially with so much laundry to do, on top of everything else!
Our "perpetual pile" of laundry got so bad when our boys were little. I finally had to tell them, if it doesn't smell, have stains on it, or is so stiff it stands by itself...wear it again! ;-)
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