How thankful I am for days.
It’s an odd thought, but it hit me today with such power and relevance that I couldn’t help but express it here. W and I had a bit of a rocky day together. His sleep schedule was thrown off last night, which trickled into today, which wrought havoc from sun up to sunset.
We limped through this day and fought for moments of joy. I was exhausted, he was exhausted, and frustrations loomed around every corner. My sleepy baby is prone to falls and he had many. Trying to keep a hand on him at all times was futile, since he is now a “walker” and “doesn’t need my help.” When a much-needed nap turned into an hour long rebellion, my patience wore thin. It had been a day and I was over it. I wanted to show him the grace and love of Christ, but what he got when I lifted him from his crib was a grumpy mama. I prayed out loud, for his sake and for mine, that God would redeem a day that had clearly derailed.
We made it. Minute by minute, hour by hour, we trudged through our challenges and made the most of our moments. Near the end of the day, we took a walk to the pond and chatted together while he chased the ducks. Just before we started the journey for home, he plopped down in the grass and excitedly squealed “DOH!!” which is his word for flowers. I laughed.
He was sitting in a patch of weeds.
I was just before redirecting him to a beautiful azalea bush just a few steps away when I saw it. Sure enough, out of the hideous tangle of overgrown and unwanted plants, a darling little flower emerged, its petals reaching for the sun. We sat there, my boy and I, for several minutes enjoying the flowers amid the weeds and I was reminded that while beauty is always present, sometimes we have to work a bit harder to find it.
Grateful that God had redeemed the day, I enjoyed the second half much more than the first. Our evening wasn’t without incident–there was still a toe to be stubbed, a bath meltdown to be had, and a tumble to be taken while feeding the puppers–but I found comfort in the awareness that this too shall pass. How incredible…an idea that is a bitter pill to swallow in moments of joy, had the capability to make my frustrating moments palatable.
Once my little lion was sleeping soundly, I plopped on the couch and exhaled. I thought about how it wasn’t my best day, nor was it William’s, and asked God to forgive me for all of the ways I blew it. With those thoughts buzzing in my brain, I was reminded of this scripture:
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
I was so thankful that we would be able to turn the page from this day…go to sleep and wake up with a whole new opportunity to love and live the abundant life God offers. Certain I had used up all of my allotted “mercies” for the day, I was thankful to get a whole new batch in the morning. ;0)
Thank You God for days…for the ones that make us smile and the ones that make us cringe. Thank you for loving us through our messes and giving us a chance every 24 hours to start again. Thank You for days…and for the grace You pour out according to our many needs on every. single. one of them.