Rocks on the Nightstand

Today has been exhausting. After a couple of busy, exciting days with out-of-state friends here, attitudes were already wearing thin by 9:00 this morning. The kitchen has been drywalled, but there are no appliances in, so cooking (any kitchen related activity, really) has been difficult. We needed to get the butcher block countertops sanded down today. The yard needed mowed. The trailer full of scraps needed taken to the dump. The house needed cleaned. There was a pile of outside work needing done... and neither Luke or I was exactly feeling like just letting it go. So instead, we pushed and pushed to get all the "important" stuff done. 

Lunch was late. We were both grouchy. The children were kinda walking on eggshells. And to top it off, we made some of them take naps! Not in the proactive, kind way, mind you, but more in the I've-had-it-with-your-disobedience/attitude/behaviour way. 

I swept the floor no less than 5 times... Drywall dust was everywhere. I reminded children approximately 517 times to shut the door. Brought in multiple "inside toys" that had managed to make it outside undetected. Removed children from sprinklers, mud, dog water dishes, and dirt clod fights. 

And I had a headache.

As soon as dinner was over (you guys, lack of home cooked meals makes me crazy after a while and I can only handle so much electric griddle cooking before I snap) and the paper plates, plastic cups, and grilled ham & cheese sandwich crusts were cleaned up, I made a bee-line for the shower. 

Admittedly, I was feeling pretty ragged and none to happy about how the day had went. I determined that when I was out of the shower, I'd smile and we'd finish the evening off on a more positive note.

But when I got out of the shower, I saw it: a whole pile of teeny, tiny rocks on my nightstand. Right there! In the house!! On MY nightstand! I have a "thing" about rocks in the house. And it's not a good kind of "thing"... It's the instant frustration kind of "thing". 

Just as I put my hand on the door to call the rock piler to the floor, the thought of my child, no doubt painstakingly and meticulously collecting each of these tiny rocks FOR ME, flashed through my mind. I stopped. After a few deep breaths, I opened the door, and with a smile, asked who left me the special rock pile. The child grinned, just completely lit up!! They said, "Did you see the beautiful white one?! That's my favorite!" I smiled and said I'd be sure to notice it. After a thank you, a hug and a kiss, the smile never left that sweet little face for the rest of the evening.

So many times I don't stop, though. So many times I get frustrated that the rules have been forgotten again, be it no picking the tulips (bulbs included!) or no rocks in the house. I forget to just take a moment and recognize that somebody had done something specifically with me in mind. Me, with all my pushing to get the chores done, grouchily reminding them to shut the door AGAIN, and sighs of frustration.

What a privilege it is to be a mom. What a privilege it is to serve my family. What a privilege it is to train up each of these precious souls God has entrusted us with.

What. 

A. 

Privilege. 

What a blessing!

Will you join me in trying harder to see the blessing and privilege, even in the hard moments?