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.
