Being a mom is the HARDEST job on the planet! Yes I said the Hardest! Noses that need wiping for the ump tenth time, walls that need scrubbing, cloths that need folding, dogs that need walking, spills that need cleaning, meals that need planning, groceries that need buying, meals that need cooking, carpools that need driving, diapers that need changing, time outs that need timing, stories that need reading, homework that needs doing......and on and on, You get the picture. In the middle of all this stuff, the time is needed to be found for your own personal and physical development and health, not to mention meeting the needs of your husband...(well that's a whole nother blog)... There are moments when the above can become a vortex of scheduling, duties and time management that seems to spiral out of control. And I would wager to guess that many of us do not handle the above with the grace of Joan Cleaver or Mrs. Brady. On One said above day in my life I had a dear Friend explain this to me and I have clung to her words of wisdom daily.
This particular day, things were WAY out of control. I had 3 babies all under the age of 4 and all in a type of diaper. My house was a wreck, the laundry was piling up and the baby was screaming. And I had just crumbled to the floor crying because I felt like I was failing at the one thing in my life that should come naturally. My fuse was burning out. And Lo and behold there was a knock on my kitchen door. I opened it to see my sweet, dear friend. Now I was glad to see her but I was MORTIFIED that she would see my house in this state of dis-order or worse see me in this condition. What she did next, I believe was ordained by God Himself. She took one look at me and ordered me to a bubble bath. I was not to reappear for ONE hour. I reluctantly followed her command. After my hour of bliss, I walked into a seemingly new world. My kids were all calm, clean and DRESSED! ( all before 11:00 am.) Dinner was started in the crock pot, lunch was made and a load of laundry had been started and folded. I looked and her and said "How"? She looked up from the table where she was doing a puzzle with my oldest and patted the chair next to her. She explained her secret to me with this principle. "Each day you begin with a basket of apples. and all day long you are passing out apples to the people in your life. Now if you don't do something daily to replenish your supply, you are going to be left with NOTHING to give."
I will not tell you that since that day I have perfected the art of replenishment. Some days are great and others, well they are still hard.. But I have recognized the importance of taking a few moments a day for myself. Whether it be to do a devotion, blog, read a book or just take a 30 minute bath in silence. :) It helps to keep me centered and most importantly helps me to be able celebrate the hugs and new adventures in my children's lives...
So thought provoking question for the day...How do you fill your apple basket? What steps are you doing TODAY to bring a sense of replenishment back into your life?
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