Covered in His Grace.

Some days, like today when the little people have been up since before the dawn and the girls seem to be continuously arguing about everything even though they refuse to play separated and the chore list is longer than I realized despite an entire day of cleaning and training yesterday, I want to lock my bedroom door and submerse myself in my pile of dust collecting books waiting to be read.  

But then the girls come to me needing help sorting out their disagreement to which I attempt to patiently guide them through a biblical approach and send them on their way.  I finish off my coffee and hope to grab a quick bite of breakfast until my path is crossed by our dear son needing answers to his complex science book he is determined to read and practice on his own.  Finally, as I scarf down a handful of turkey bacon I am once again called to mediate yet another argument about who gets which Lego man because their play cannot continue until their roles are sorted out and they have assured me they tried to do it on their own already. 

 Emotions are high and anger ebbs as selfish hearts are revealed and I again pull from my morning devotional about joy and kindness and love.  The littles, with their issues temporarily subdued, scuttle off to mind their play once again and I sit back to reflect on our seemingly unproductive morning.  

No formal school has occurred and our chore list remains untouched.  My earthly mentality takes over and I chastise myself for our lack of worldly productivity.  If I could only wake up earlier or stick to routine better on days like today, we could get more done.  Frustrated, I grab my bible and flick open my phone app for my devotional and start to read hoping to glean insight on how to accomplish more despite my weary bones.

He speaks.

Thank God for his unwavering grace.  Not just for my kids but for me.  And luckily, His grace reminds me that He is all that matters at the end of the day.  Our chore list and even our education, apart from Him is pointless.  I am reminded to have an eternal mindset and that I need to daily (or rather on days like today- hourly) die to my flesh.  Raising my little ones to look to Him in everything, to be grateful no matter what- because they have His love- is the most important work for me.  Being their God's love-revealing mom is my highest call each day while Eric is at work.  It's hard as my flesh desires to fight back.  But I am thankful because His grace applies to my as well. 

So I smile a genuine smile as I realize the magnitude of this role.  I am not crushed by it because it is not suppose to be done in my own strength, but rather in His.  The Lord of all.  And He has great plans for these little people, I need to just be faithful to remind them of that wonderful eternal reality.

And that is more inviting than any book pile or quiet room can ever be.