Perservering

For the past month, I have wasted a lot of time. I have not been orderly in my thoughts or in how I carry out my daily tasks. I feel like I am defined by the clutter in my mind and home. A contributing factor to this is motherhood, I think. Another contributing factor is my natural bent toward the disorderly and ability to look over a mess without a second glance. But this is not a state of mind where I am stewarding wisely, carefully, what God has given me. When all the kids are in bed, I stand in my "greatroom" (i.e. kitchen, eating area, office and living room) and all of the things I have to do/should do/want to do flash through my mind as I take in with my eyes what clutter remains of our day....and often, I get too overwhelmed to begin to tackle more than the kitchen (if I even do that...hey, it can wait till 7 a.m. right?). This week I remembered something I learned a few years ago about how, often times, perfectionists don't start any projects because they don't see how they could ever get the job done the way they want it. So, not ever taking it on, whether it be scrapbooking, or organizing- whatever it is, it does not get started. Well, I'm no perfectionist, I'm just lazy. But this week I decided to organize the books in our home. Nay, they are not exactly how I had wished them to be ordered (alphabetically and by subject), but in my organizing I have created two ordered bookshelves and gotten rid of a few books that I don't care to read (okay, only 3 books)... Bonus! I found a few books I thought I had lost. So today, I resolve to steward my inklings of free time to organize one area of clutter in my life each day.
I have realized the necessity of teaching my kids how to pick up after themselves, I just am not sure how to do it. This is how the moment passes when I ask my kids to pick up their toys. "Elias could you please pick up your Lightning Mcqueen cars and put them in the plastic box?"
Elias picks up one car and puts it in the box. Then carries on playing in his merry way. "Elias please finish picking your cars up." Eventually I am the one that picks up the cars in order that peace be maintained in the home. I get really frustrated because usually the scenario goes one of two ways. The first, as above, I pick up the cars. The second, Elias picks his cars up after much coaxing, conniving, bribing, and fussing. This second scenario is much more difficult for me to endure. Its way easier for me to pick the cars up myself, or, better yet, to overlook the clutter and leave the cars on the floor. This has resulted in many a stubbed toe between Dustin and I. If any of you moms have any tips on teaching kids how to pick up after themselves I welcome them graciously. Even more so, I welcome encouragement from moms who realize how much thoughtful and wise teaching their children require.
Why is it that in the most mundane of duties do I realize my children's deepest need and do I see their wayward hearts and through that I see mine. My wayward heart doesn't want to perservere, to keep on teaching them, my heart is hard towards them and not understanding of their youthfulness. I want them to get it the first time and I despair when they don't. I lack grace and hope.
I've been encouraged by 1 Corinthians 13:4-13, I hope you will be too.