He's always been faithful to me.

The expression "The days are long, but the years are short" comes to mind often.I know it's true in raising children, (and I am so thankful to older Mothers who have reminded me of this truth often. How I need it!)

I think a more fitting summary of my days right now would be: the days are long, but the :weeks: are short! Can other Moms relate? As I sit here at my computer this afternoon, I look back on this week...and it is hard to be satisfied with anything my hands have done! "Is there anything to show for what I accomplished this week??", so grumbles my heart.

For me, these days usually begin with waking up squished between my two daughters, who have ended up in bed with me in the course of the night. Not one sticker this week on the (Please!)Stay-in-your-bed-all-night-chart ,for a certain three year old I know.

And there is usually a backlog of dishes from the night before,( -clean ones in the dishwasher to unload that should have been dealt with before starting on dinner!, and so there's a dirty pile from dinner by the sink to scrub) and breakfast will soon add more.

Waking up before my children, with time to drink my tea
(-which has now been desperately switched out by coffee!-)
 is but a faint memory.

Sleeping all through the night is but a dream...
A whole year's "unanswered" prayer would be more accurate!
I know it's a heard prayer and an answered prayer,but not answered as I would prefer! But, thankfully,I can keep asking for it, and so I do!

Along with time to read my Bible for a long stretch- oh how I miss that!
Not to mention, time to exercise,
or make art (!),
or to just sit quietly and stare at the wall.

This morning, as I stood before a massive pile of breakfast dishes, ( as Emmy was at preschool, and Sadie was taking her morning nap-) I felt like it was as good a time as any to talk to the Lord about my plight. And I want to share how He met me there!

All too often at 9:45am, I am foggy-headed and grumbly in my heart; overwhelmed with the tasks of the day ahead of me. Tired, and allowing that to steal my joy. I always feel like if I weren't so tired, everything would be so much easier!

But, it was one of those mustard-seed of faith moments. And I set before the Lord all of those things I listed above, along with a few others.

Nothing too amazing happened, but I did feel renewed strength to just face the task at hand. And fresh faith to not give into my strong desire to spend the rest of the morning on the couch watching Parks and Recreation, instead of attending to the various duties around the house. ;}

So, as I washed the dishes in my rarely quiet kitchen, I suddenly was in the mood to listen to Sara Groves. I hadn't listened to her in such a long time, but I found her on my ipad. And without really thinking, mostly because I couldn't remember the last time I listened to it- I tapped onto my favorite song of hers - He's Always Been Faithful.

And it was like a slideshow of the past mundane moments of the week were on display before me, and God was giving me grace to see beauty and purpose in them. Dishsoap bubbles on my hands, tears in my eyes. Joy in my heart. (All 3, gifts from the Lord.)

"Morning by morning I wake up to find the power and comfort of God's hand in mine.

Season by season I watch Him, amazed; :in awe of the mystery: of His perfect ways

.

All I have need of, His hand will provide. He's always been faithful to me.

I can't remember a trial or a pain- He did not recycle to bring me gain.

I can't remember one single regret in serving God only, and trusting His hand.

All I have need of, His hand will provide. He's always been faithful to me.

This is my anthem, this is my song; the theme of the stories I've heard for so long:
God has been faithful, He will be again.

His loving compassion- it knows no end.

All I have need of - His hand will provide.

He's always been faithful to me.

I just felt like the Lord was reaching out to me. All the issues in my heart can see so insignificant. Dishes, and sticker charts, a year of inadequate sleep, dreams of time alone to make things and be creative; post-pregnancy pounds.

 I think that's why it can be easy for Moms to not bring these kinds of things to the Lord, and to just wallow in self-pity.

I was tired, and frustrated, and feeling like this is how life is always going to be for the rest of my motherhood! But God was opening my eyes to see how He's been with me, morning by morning. He has sustained me till now, and will continue to.

It was like a theologically magic wand was waved over my situation, and I was able to see clearly. He made an unlovely everyday moment into something beautiful. He helped me remember the meaning and purpose in my daily lot, and strength for it- comes from Him.

I wanted to share this song with other ladies out there. I hope God will use it to encourage you too; to restore to you the joy of salvation, like He did for me in an everyday moment.

Psalm 16 comes to mind,

 

"Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. 

 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

 surely I have a delightful inheritance. 

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. 

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. 

With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 

 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;my body also will rest secure, 

because you will not abandon me...

You make known to me the path of life; 

 you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand."