Two Bushels of Apples

This morning I woke up and there was light coming in through my window. Too much light. Way too much light for what I have become used to as our “waking hour” of 5 am.

I listened and heard almost no noise, except for the whimpering baby that had awoken me.

I checked the baby monitor. No toddler in her bed.

And no noise.

It was 7:30.

Shoot.

The next hour was a blur.

Feed the baby. Cuddle with husband. Make breakfast for husband. Make lunch for husband. Get juice for toddler. No not that juice. Crying. Two bushels of apples on the floor. Yeah, two bushels. More food for the baby.

This picture pretty much sums up my morning. (It’s worse now, in case you were wondering. There are NO apples left in the bags. 🙂 )

Somewhere along the way, Matt let me know that not only had my water boiled, but he had turned it off after some time of letting it boil.

“Thanks,” I said. “I’ll have to put it back on when I get a chance. Momma always gets her breakfast last.”

“Do you know why that is?” my husband asked.

Time out.

What would YOUR answer to that question be?

Silence. -?

“What choice do I have?” – ?

“Well, it’s not like YOU’d ever wait to have YOUR breakfast last!” – ?

“I don’t matter enough to get to eat with the rest of you. I just do as I’m told.” – ?

“I really enjoy getting to serve my family and then enjoy my coffee.” – ?

Something else? – ?

I think the answer to that question has a lot more to do with our attitude than we think.

Some of these are lies the enemy is feeding us. The lie that we are less valuable than the other people in our house. The lie that by serving we are acting as a doormat. The lie that our husband is a bad guy.

Some of these might have some validity but it’s really more about how we think about them. Like what choice do I have? can turn into joy. I know it’s sounds crazy but try this on. It might not work for you, but give it a try and tweak it a little bit to suit your needs.

What choice do I have? Sometimes I have to try REALLY hard to find joy in a situation. Like when my daughter pees on the floor. Like when my son cries from 1-3am. Like when I have two bushels of apples to pick up from the far reaches of my kitchen. And of course, sometimes it’s easier. Like when my son says “Momma”. Or when my daughter gives me a hug and says “Love you mommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy.” Or she washes her own apple for snack.

But I can choose joy no matter what, knowing that God encourages it in His word. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says 16 Be joyful always, 17 pray at all times, 18 be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus. 

I find a lot of joy in drinking hot coffee. While eating my breakfast. While the kids are doing something else so I’m not getting snitched off of. The best chance for this to happen is to just wait.

I find joy in making sure my husband (who is trying to gain weight) has enough to eat at work. I like taking care of him. And he is very thankful for the effort I put in to doing that for him.

I find joy in having a washer and drier at my house to wash wet sheets and towels and clothes and not having to let them sit.

I find joy in my son always finding me and wanting to be close to me. I know all too soon he’ll be done with that and even though I’m exhausted right now, I’ll miss it.

I’m not saying I’m even close to perfect at this – and some days I’m not even good at this! But if we look at the scripture from Thessalonians, there’s even more encouragement. Pray continually. When I can’t find joy in my immediate situation, I can pray thanksgiving for all kinds of things. And I can ask to be shown joy in my current situation.

This morning at 3 am, I plucked up my baby boy and I said “God, I’m exhausted. How do I find joy in this?” I’d love to tell you I got an awesome answer. I didn’t. I laid my son back down, went to the bathroom, and he went to sleep. For 4.5 more hours. He needed his momma. Is it easy to find joy at 3 am? Not really. But it’s there.

And I know I wrote about this before and some people disagreed with me. That’s ok. I still think it’s true. I definitely think that’s what God has been teaching me.

I can choose joy. Even in submission. And that doesn’t make me a doormat. Because my attitude is that of service and love for my family, and an act of worship before God.

So I bet you’re wondering what I answered in the conversation above?

I didn’t get a chance to.

My husband told me that it’s because I’m a good mom and that my family appreciates how I take care of them.

I think I’m a good mom because I choose to find some joy in every situation.

What do YOU think? And would you be brave enough to share below?

Dare you today to think about this oh-so-important thought and see if you can choose joy in hard things. Also know that “feeling like a doormat” is a lie. You are not “less than” because you choose joy. Can you start applying this today?

Have a super weekend, loves.

-Leah

 

P.S. We are blogging our way through The Respect Dare. Please subscribe in the side bar, join us on facebook, follow me @LeahHeffner and Nina @RespectDare on twitter, and check out Nina and Debbie‘s blogs. I am loving this series. It’s like having you all in my living room!

P.S.S. I am doing a super awesome giveaway next week. Moms to little ones (and grandmas/nanas/grammies/neenees/gigis) are going to LOVE it. I’m so excited to show it to you. Now to get mine done so I can write the review…