Train Yourself to Turn Those Messes Into Blessings

Do you ever feel like your life is on automatic pilot every day? 

blessingsYou know what I mean, you wake up and you are just going through the same motions day in and day out. That pesky alarm clock goes off, you get the kids up, feed them, dress them, etc. You are the cook, maid, the butcher, baker the candlestick maker…oops, that was the bedtime story I read last night. Honestly, I wonder sometimes if what I do even matters anymore.

Nighttime comes, and after finally getting the kids to bed, tired and exhausted, I still have to pick up the toys thrown about all over the house, tackle all the dirty dishes in the sink, and wash the piles of laundry covering the floor. A few nights ago, as I put the clothes in the washing machine while sulking the entire time, I had this thought cross my mind. I swear, it was God talking to me.

He said, “quit complaining and be grateful.”

I stopped, took a deep breath and swallowed some nasty guilt and thought for a second: “what if all I had was gone tomorrow?” A horrible thought entered my head as I was tossing clothes into the dryer … what if I never got to see my precious kids’ faces ever again? I felt sick and disgusted for allowing myself to be so ungrateful.

messI lay in bed that night thinking about how I could honor God and my family by being more grateful for all the blessing in my life. I decided I would be thankful for all things (yes, even the big and little messes). 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

So just how would I turn all the messes into blessings?

Simple. Wake up and be thankful for another day of life. Dirty dishes mean I am thankful for having healthy and nourishing food to eat. A pile of laundry and dirty towels mean I am thankful for a hardworking husband that provides a roof over our heads, warm water for baths and to wash clothes. Toys thrown about all over the floor (that I may have picked up once or twice already throughout the day) reminds me to be thankful for the precious gifts God has entrusted me with to raise.

As moms, I know it is part of our duty to keep things running smoothly in our households. My husband has always told me the most important job in America is being a mom. He adds that a mom earns a hundred thousand dollars a year, but her salary is zero. There are messes and tantrums, along with smiles and hugs and kisses that go to compensate a mom. Yep, the good and the bad, it’s all part of the compensation plan! Next time you feel exhausted or aggravated with the daily struggles and messes you encounter, I encourage you to turn those sulking feelings into gratefulness and see how much better your day goes. It’s pretty difficult to be grateful and unhappy at the same time.

What are some of the things that keep you bogged down and have you sulking as a mom? How can you turn those things into gratefulness?

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