cheerful heart

For the last 7 months, I have not allowed myself to write for some crazy self punishment reason.  I'm not really sure why my brain is functioning like that, but I do know that I can stop it...

So today is the day that I choose to write.

Back in September, when school started for the kids, about 140 days ago, I started two 90 day challenges.  One was for eating shakes twice a day and the other was for reading a 90 day devotional.

The shake thing lasted about a week.

The devotional thing...I'm on day 67.

Yup, I'm terrible with sticking with things of importance.  How I finished my BA in September is beyond me.

Today's reading was based on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.  Basically, it says to be cheerful no matter what happens while thanking God throughout theday with prayers.

I have kids.

Kids who "forget" a LOT and don't seem to care about all of the effort I put into the house via cleaning so thatbit doesn't smell and look like a zoo.

Let me give you an example.....

Thursday afternoon I vacuumed the landing upstairs and steamed cleaned that along with my office which is usually locked because, well, my daughter knows no boundaries. They cleaned their room on Saturday so I could vacuum and steam clean their carpets.

When I woke them up this morning, it looked as if I did NOTHING on Thursday.   My office was unlocked and opened with dog poo everywhere (we have a female beagle), there was clothes and trash all over place and I was stepping in wet carpet (from the beagle...I hope).

To say I was far from cheerful is an under statement.

How in the ever loving world can I be cheerful waking up to that mess on a Monday morning? I don't don't think it is possible.

Not for this human mom.

I told the kids how I was disappointed in how they responded to my efforts with a blatant "screw you" attitude.

They assured me they never once thought that.

So I, as cheerfully as possible, explained to them that actions speak louder than words.  That perhaps afterschool, they can cheerfully clean up that mess if they want to watch any form television in the next year.

Until they come home from school, I will be praying for all of us to have cheerful servant hearts for the work that needs to be done....

Again...