This is a post from a month or so ago.... I got so much feedback on it i thought I would share here too. Enjoy!
I got
angry tonight. It happens to all of us sometimes, I know. I also had
one of those moments where God pretty much turns me on my head and
shakes the anger from my soul, but I will get to that part in a minute.
It all started with laundry. I HATE doing laundry. Well tonight I
cooked a big ole supper, one of those that messes up every single dish
that I own. After I sat down to eat I remembered
that I hadn't put Emily's sheets in the dryer. So, i put my plate aside
and go to the dreaded laundry room. My laundry room is my deep dark
secret. I don't mind washing the clothes. Heck, I don't even mind
putting them in the dryer. It's the part after that that I can't stand.
So, sometimes, maybe once or twice a month (especially around vacations
or holidays) the clothes will make it out of the dryer and no further.
At this point they seem to call all of their laundry buddies and have a
big ole party just outside of my dryer. Tonight they had attracted many
friends... about six loads worth. All those clothes and I still had to
put Emily's sheets into the dryer. This meant that I would have to pull
yet one more load of clean stuff out of the dryer and let them join the
party. So I do that (what's one more load) and go back to the kitchen
to retrieve my cold plate.
By this time Emily and Jason have
finished and their plates are stacked next to the sink. Not in the sink,
no, that would make too much sense. Almost as much sense as in the
dishwasher, but that's a different story. So I quickly eat my meal and
immediately start cleaning all the dishes. No help from the husband, or
the daughter, my boys are in MS, but had they been here they probably
wouldn't have helped either (grumble grumble grumble). I put the last
plate in the dishwasher and it's time for Em's bath. I wrangle her into
the bath tub. I have to get her a towel out of the laundry party cause
there aren't any in her room. While she's bathing I remember her sheets
and pull them out of the dryer and put them back on her bed. In the mean
time I find yet another load throughout the house and i put them on to
wash.
After Emily is in the bed and Husband is watching some
show about surviving in the wild (how would he survive without three
shirts a day?), I go to the laundry party and bust it up. I'm grumbling,
and fussing, and fuming. And then I pick up one of Sam's shirts. It's
not a special one but it's one that he wears a good bit. I stop and say a
prayer for him, and hope that the next time that he wears this shirt
that he has a good day. I pick up the next item, one of Emily's dresses
that she has worn so much it has holes in it and I laugh and fold it
carefully. LAUGH??? But I'm still angry, no time for laughing and
praying and sentimental folding..... i fold some towels and bath cloths
(they're easy) and then dig back in. I find some of Jason's grease
stained work clothes. I thank God that he has a job and that he provides
for us. A pair of Nolan's jeans with grass stains (thank goodness he
can run and play and slide in the grass), Emily's shirt with a chocolate
stain (thankful that we have so much food that we even have dessert),
And it starts coming easier and easier...
I'm praising God for
each piece of laundry and praying for each person in my family that it
belongs to. Before I know it, all those clothes are put away and I'm not
angry anymore. In fact, I'm happy, and grateful. What a silly problem
to have too many clothes when others don't have a warm shirt to wear.
How silly to complain about putting clean clothes away when others long
for clean clothes. Like I said, God shook the anger right out of me and
replaced it with all these praises. He's good about that. I'm writing
this so that next time it piles up maybe i will remember to be thankful
instead of angry.
"My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you." James 1:19-21
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