Monday, October 18, 2010

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.

have to pay taxes,
I have to put gas in the tank, 
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.

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

MomsTheWord

8 comments:

  1. Oh wow! I loved reading this! I needed to be reminded of this! Thanks for stopping by today and the lovely comment about my chairs. You rock!

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  2. Love the "I get to" instead of "I have to" mentality. Awesome! As you said, we GET to! And now I'd better get to some of my things too, lol!

    Thanks for linking up to Making Your Home Sing Monday!

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  3. I really needed this today! Tomorrow is a new day to be glad of all we "get to" do!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  4. So true! Attitude is everything sometimes! It can change the home when we have a Christ-like one. :) Great post!

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  5. Does the "have to" apply to farming? Do I have to run the tractor for another 12 hours today? I suppose it does or all you city folks wouldn't have the best and safest food supply in the world. Ok, let's not count the ecoli outbreak with the eggs... those "chicken ranches" were probably run by a couple of former FFA delegates from Alabama anyway. LOL inside joke between me and Mindy. Love ya girlfriend!

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  6. thanks for the encouraging words. I needed them today :)

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  7. That's exactly my problem! Now I'll got write "I get to" 1000 times and I'm sure my attitude will change!

    ReplyDelete

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