Chasing My Tail

Yesterday was one of those days when I felt like I was spinning my wheels. I was trying to get a little cleaning done on top of taking care of the kids, and it just wasn’t happening. Every time I’d think I had a moment to quickly wipe the counters or fold a load of laundry, my teething babies would start fussing. After getting frustrated and feeling very unproductive, I decided to throw in the towel and let my productivity for the day be measured by how many times I could get the girls to giggle instead of how many loads of laundry I finished.

I’m sure many of you have heard this quote before:

“The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.”

I’m someone who likes to keep a clean house. I couldn’t live by this quote every day of my life or I’d get crabby and stressed and I wouldn’t be someone my kids would want to be around. It’s not that my house has to be spotless, because it never is, but I need to keep things organized and clean enough for us to function efficiently. For this reason, I love my cleaning schedule. If I do a little bit every day it all works out. Until I can’t do a little bit every day, like yesterday. Then I have to be okay with that.

It’s important to give ourselves grace in the everyday. One thing I’ve learned since becoming a mom is that you have to ask the Lord to help you lay aside your own agenda and be okay with what He might ask you to do each day. With kids there are so many variables, and they don’t fit into a mom-made schedule. Usually just when I think I’m in a good routine, something will happen to throw everything off-kilter (teething, colds, ect.) and I find myself in survival mode for a few days or weeks until the dust settles. During those little storms along the way I’m always amazed at how God sustains me and teaches me more about Him than I would’ve learned had I kept to my own ideas of what was important to deal with.

So yes, there are many days when I chase my tail, go a million miles an hour, yet find myself wondering if there will ever be a day when I feel “productive” again. However, then I remind myself that as long as I’m seeking the Lord and doing what He has laid before me for that day, I’m doing a great work, and I cannot come down. (Nehemiah 6:3) My greatest accomplishment may not be something I do, but the kids I raise.

Dear Lord, please direct my days and help me to follow your lead in a way that brings you glory. I want to take care of my family and provide a home that’s a calm refuge, and I need to rely on your direction each day if I want to be successful in doing so.

Love,

Amber

*This post is part of a 31 Day Challenge to write about Seeing God in Ordinary Moments. Visit my landing page here for links to all the posts.

P.S. For more reflections on parenthood and life, follow us on Facebook (Hun Let’s Run) and on Instagram: @ambermariekuiper and @jakekuiper! We’d also love for you to subscribe to our Hun, Let’s Run Podcast! For more info about joining our fitness community as a customer or coach, please email us at amber@mommysmetime.com!