So, I had this wonderful grace today. As I looked around seeing all
that needs to be done, which usually overwhelms me, I realized
something. Paradoxically, I think it's the fruit of praying St. Thomas Aquinas' prayer for ordering a life wisely. It's a paradox because my
life feels very far from ordered right now. But God revealed to me that
He loves me and is pouring out His grace on all of us right in the
middle, and really through our messy life (in a physical and spiritual sense). When I looked around, suddenly all of this:
-legos built and unbuilt (not fun to step on)
-A pile of toy nerf guns confiscated yesterday on which I stubbed my toe really bad in the dark this morning (ouch!)
-dust (lots and lots of it)
-a hot wheels race car set at the bottom of the stairs (why there?)
-train set somewhere, or so I've heard
-dirty kleenex (I know! gross, it's not me)
-food on the floor (we don't have a dog, working on Chris in this matter)
-dirty (and also clean, unfolded) laundry taking over (literally overflowing)
-piles of papers with printed out prayers/articles I like
-prayer books
-piles of kids' school projects, homework, forms that need to be filled out
-childrens' books on the nightstands, on the floors, on the beds, on
the counters, on the stairs (not fun to slip on), on the kitchen
counters
-my books in all the same places as the childrens' books
-unsent Christmas cards that I didn't have an address for (I give up on this one)
-unsent school pictures (working on that one too!)
-dirty dishes
-coats, blankets, socks, shoes, mittens, etc...
-Christmas tree still up
-Nativity sets still out
-Superhero birthday decorations still hanging up
-Pink flower birthday decorations still hanging up
-wonderful school books laying around haphazardly in the living room
that when used teach God's beauty in all parts of our life and studies
-a violin with music scattered around
-a very dusty piano that needs tuning
-unmade beds
-and much much more believe it or not
made me realize something beautiful. My messy life, and that of my
family, is the evidence that there are 7 beautiful souls living in this
house, learning to love God and each other, and that despite the fact
that it feels and looks so "disordered", it is in fact ordered. Ordered
to the love of God, the love He has for each one of us, and the love we
have for Him.
Thank You Jesus! Amen.
This post is both beautiful AND funny, Kathryn! Life is messy and so is grace in a way. Good luck working on Chris about the dog! They do tend to eat off the floor...lol.
ReplyDelete(Is this where I get to admit that I have unfolded, clean laundry and only 1 kid? Ditto on the unmade beds. Not that there are many to make mind you. But my floors ARE clean thanks to the two dogs! )
Mary!!!!! SO GOOD to hear from you! I have missed you. Hope you and your family are well.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's the angle I should come from for trying to talk Chris into a dog. Clean floors....hmmmmm, sounds awfully good! I love dogs too :) But it has been a long time since I've had to take care of one, so there's that too. It's nice when our neighbor asks us to watch their dogs for them :)
Thanks so much for commenting!! Hope it's not so long again until the next time we connect.
Blessings!
I have missed you too :) I hope you are all well!
ReplyDeleteYes, we are all well here! A LOT has happened in the past year or so since not blogging much. I would like to write about it some time, but can't figure out where to start! I will pray about that and ask God how He wants me to begin and go from there. It's all good, and the fruit of much prayer.
ReplyDeleteHello Kathryn, I'm so grateful that you wrote about St. Thomas prayer for ordering a life wisely. When I did a search for St. Thomas prayers, I hit paydirt and downloaded a pdf filr of his many, many prayers.
ReplyDeleteConsidering that so much has happened in the past year, I hope you will write about it. As to where to start - just jump right in. It doesn't need to be in order and I'm sure it would please a lot of people who are hoping you will write more often. I don't blog that much these days either. I do read the blogs, but seldom comment.
Blessings on the 7 beautiful souls who live and thrive in your wonderfully messy home..
Hello Maryellen! So good to see you here. You are so very kind, and you have made my day! Blessings on you and your family as well. So thankful for your beautiful spirit.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless you!
ReplyDeleteHello Michael! Thank you so much. And may God bless you and keep you!
ReplyDelete