Beauty in the Mundane

I was looking forward to the moment I saw his car in the driveway. Looking forward to seeing her face light up and her little arms reaching for "da-da". Looking forward to having my arms free long enough to make myself a coffee without hearing shrieks of protest. And I was looking forward to her feeling better - feeling good enough to be her happy little self.

Inside myself, I was bitterly reviewing my day. Harshly criticizing the fact that the floor hadn't been swept, and now he was about to walk in the door. My goals hadn't been met. As he walked in and my heart rejoiced at her happiness at seeing her daddy. My spirits lifted. I love this man. He saw her happy face, felt my welcome home hug, and didn't mention the rugs draped over the couch, the half eated apple slice on the floor, or the cluttered coffee table.

As the evening progressed, the floor did get swept, and I slowly ticked through the remainder of the "have to's" on my to-do list. Supper was eaten, and put away. I made my long awaited latte. He sat in his armchair, working on something on the laptop- a little girl crawling on and off his lap as the minutes ticked by. Her bedtime ( and the time for another dose of tylonal) rolled around, and after a fashion, she was peacefully asleep.

Then house was quiet, and we sat in the living room, Mommy and Daddy, taking time to be husband and wife. We talked. He finished his work on the computer. I cut up jeans for a project I'm starting. It was nothing special. Some people might call it boring.  I realized that night as I crawled into bed, that my whole outlook on the day had changed. I had told him at suppertime that the day could have been a lot better, but then again it could be worse. By the end of the evening I felt like there had been a few hours of pure bliss.

At some point in the evening my focus had shifted and I started seeking the beauty in life instead of focusing on the bad. I began to see the beauty in a mundane evening spent at home, surrounded by the people I loved the most. I realized that this feeling of love and contentment that filled the room was all I ever wanted in this earthly life, and in that realization, my soul was refreshed.

Mama, if you are feeling like you can't deal with one more tantrum, if you feel like you are failing as a wife.. You are not alone. This moment will pass, you will make it through this hour, this day, this stage. Don't be hard on yourself. The most important thing is the little life (or lives) God has entrusted to your care. The housework will get done someday. Try to focus on the happy things. If you only have a one course meal for supper, that's fine. At least you made that. Plenty of men are coming home to a cold house, and wishing for a home. Maybe tomorrow you can make him his favorite cookies, or sneak a little note in his lunchbox saying how thankful you are for him. These are the things that matter. Your family. Your happiness. The love that makes this house a home, and most importantly,  that Jesus will give you strength for another moment. We need only lean on Him.