Do I HAVE To?

I am a little intolerant when my children whine, 

"Do I have to?"  

after I ask them to do something. 

A smile, a verbal acknowledgement 

and a prompt act of obedience is what I want to see.

Not a tantrum.

(Yea, it was posed.

Beka was laughing so hard,

she had to duck her head.)

It's a little convicting to realize

 sometimes 

I demand more of my children that I expect from myself.

At times, the household chores can make me a little cranky. 

I get tired of cleaning. 

I get tired of shopping. 

I really get tired of cooking. 

I get tired of reminding people to pick up after themselves.

I get tired of working so much and still never having a clean house.  

I get tired of being tired.

Sometimes the have to's of my life stetch endlessly upwards,

like a mountain range I can never conquer.

I want to stomp my feet and whine,

"Do I have to?"

 when another demand is placed on my list.

I have to remind myself that actually

I love my life. 

I do.  I really, really do. 

I always wanted to be happily married to a godly, intelligent, adorable man. 

I am. 

I always wanted to have six children. 

I do. 

I always wanted to stay home with my kids and homeschool them. 

I am and I do.

So what is is about my life that makes me cranky?

Only my attitude.

I need to change my  attitude because 

 don't really want to change my circumstances.

I need to be thankful for the mountains of dirty laundry,

cuz' that means kids are here.

I need to be thankful for the meals I am cooking, 

'cuz that means there is money to buy groceries for my family.

I need to be thankful for the messes,

because that means I am not living alone in my house.

I have the husband and the children I always wanted. 

Now, I just need the right attitude to take care of them.

I have to pay taxes,

I have to put gas in the tank, 

I have to wear a seatbelt.

But, I  get to take care of my family.

I get to feed them. 

I get to wash their laundry. 

I get to clean the house.

I get to  because I want to.

Psalms 113:9
He makes the barren woman to keep house,
and to be a joyful mother of children.
Praise  the LORD.

I am done blogging,

cuz' I gotta'

lotta'

stuff

I

get to

do today.

**********

linkin' up

cuz' I

get to