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Saturday morning I sat, curled up on the couch, nursing my cup of coffee. Jim, on a mission (as always), cordially invited me along for a Lowe’s/Walmart/breakfast trip. I hadn’t even showered yet.
Um.
My plans included a leisurely morning, laundry, and blogging.
Sometimes we wives need to defer – even though hubs could do their “man stuff” without us. (I don’t know – something along the lines of “help mate” or other such thing rings a bell?)
The mission involved replacing our mailbox and support post. On our way to the check-out, the stock boy smiled and commented, “We all have our crosses to bear – his just happens to be cedar.”
BA-DUM-PUMP.
A lovely breakfast at Panera (featuring Lawrence Welk music – Jim asked me to dance), a new mailbox and post, and one surprisingly stress free Walmart trip later, we arrived home in time to grab a shower before my next appointment – a movie with my daughters. I had promised Hayley we’d catch the flick before she left for summer tour in a couple days.
Sometimes we moms need to defer – even if we have mounds of laundry on the bathroom floor.
Absolutely worth every penny, that movie. And not just the movie, but time with my girls, laughing in the back of the theater and acting like a 6 year old because there were literally seven people in attendance. (Matinee + older showing = seat hopping in the middle of the movie, especially if everyone else is sitting up front and you’re on the next to last row.)
Home again, I blogged a few minutes and threw in a load of laundry. ENTER: oldest daughter, husband, and Tiny Tornado (number one grandson).
Sometimes we Gigis need to defer – even if the laundry sits in the washer overnight.
Dusk featured a camp fire on the deck. Smores. Six adults, Tiny Tornado tucked in his pack-n-play, sound asleep.
Eldest suggested, “Let’s all say something nice about the person to our right.” What fun we had enjoying the sweetness of those moments. “Now the person to your left.” More kindness bestowed, a few tears shed, eventually everyone taking a turn blessing each person in the circle. Laughter shared, funny memories recalled, a sense of camaraderie as parents graced adult children, and children graced parents.
More tears – of joy, victories, and times gone by.
I found out what my kids think of me that night (well, the good things, anyway). They shared freely the desire to emulate their dad and I in certain areas, and how they understand now things they didn’t back then. Characteristics such as wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, humor, and love for our Lord were mentioned.
Talk about humbling.
We missed one important member – our son in Tennessee. We each wrote a text of appreciation, read aloud, then hit send. He expressed a desire to have been part of the fun.
This night – this wonderful, blessed, nostalgic night – will linger in my memory for years. To have children who desire to spend time with their parents is a cultivation process. It’s been years in the making.
Sometimes we need to defer – because the laundry will be there tomorrow. (Also the rest of your life.)
LOADS. Of benefits. Daily.
Do you ever stop to think of all your benefits? Are they just annoyances?
A snotty nosed toddler who just threw spaghetti all over the floor from his high chair. A teen who needs to learn how to drive. An elderly parent desiring a ride to the grocery store. A husband with a to-do list that involves you.
We don’t realize our benefits because we don’t recognize our benefits.
STOP. Think about it. Who do you have in your life today that you wish would get out of your way so you could just “do your job”?
That’s your benefit. They are your benefit.
God’s ways aren’t our ways. He blesses us with far more than we deserve, and we don’t even know it.
Let’s look at this day through God’s lens instead of our own. Life is about people, not lists.
And let’s just face it –
wouldn’t you rather have a load of benefits than a load of laundry anyway?
“Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!” Psalms 68:19
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Linking up with: Rich Faith Rising, Dance with Jesus Friday
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What precious moments with your family. Sometimes the sweetest moments come in the unplanned moments of simply being together. Loved this post today and the reminder…permission…to leave my laundry on the bathroom floor! Yes!
Hi Ginger, thanks for the encouragement! You hit the nail on the head – the sweetest moments are the unplanned, no picture, non-Hallmark kind of moments! Great to connect!
Hello Ruthie, your cute baby's picture made me smile. Yes the Lord grants us is daily loads of benefits.
Many Blessing to you and enjoy the New Month.
Hey girl! Good to see you again. I'm SO thankful for His benefits!
Blessings to you as well!
Stopping everything to spend with family is the greatest thing we can do. I love how you all gave each other blessings. That is something our family would do with a lot of laughs and teasing. Loved this Ruthie!!!
YES! Lots of laughing and teasing definitely took place! There are lots of things I miss about having them all younger and under one roof, but if this is the exchange – I'll take it!
Have a great day, friend!
Great post… it is so important to take those precious moments when they arise. 🙂 I'm glad I found your blog… and I am now following you on email and on pinterest.
Hello and welcome! Yes it is so important. I needed this advice about 20 years ago! Thanks for following, I'll be checking out your blog soon!
Hi Ruthie,
I found your blog on Titus 2sDay Link-up! You are my neighbor this week 🙂 I'm so glad because I loved the reminder to enjoy the moments! My laundry is currently overflowing, sink is full, and dishwasher needs to be unloaded. I will not hyper-ventilate … I will just enjoy my little monkeys!!!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
http://www.lorischumaker.com
Girl, I am so glad you reminded me today that it's ok to defer. I needed it! Me and my perfectionist self. Thanks for visiting me today at my little web home. Glad I stopped by here too!
Hi Ruthie!
What a beautiful but yet sobering post! It is so true that we have to leave the laundry behind to care about the things that really matter. I try myself to use eternity as my litmus test. The question I ask is, will this "thing" really matter in eternity? If the "thing" is a person,then yes it will matter in eternity; but if it's not, I must ask the question what impact will it really have in the end? This helps me to focus on what really matters. I have a little picture hanging in my kitchen that says, "The most important things in life aren't things". This serves as my daily reminder 🙂
Thank you also for displaying a great example of joyful submission as you humbly went along with your husband for a great time of fellowship together at Lowes, Walmart and Panera. I could have seen myself wanting to stay behind to take care of "MY" business. Oh, I have SO much to learn…loving the Titus 2 here!!!
Blessings!
~Tia
Tia, love the litmus test analogy! Your picture in your kitchen says it all. And guess what – I'm still learning that submission thing – and it's been 28 years. It's so hard to do at times when you know you could get so much else done!
Thanks for stopping by to chat!
Oh not you too? I'm a fellow perfectionist. 🙂 I'm so glad to see you here, thanks for reading! Have a good evening!
Good for you! Because you know the work will always be there – but I found out THEY won't! 🙁 Thanks for visiting, neighbor!
Oh, my! I knew I liked you but now I'm certain I adore you. This post almost made me sniffle. It is so rich and beckons me to choose to let things wait. I needed it right this moment, as there is so much with all the writing and the blogging that is begging me in a different direction.
You speak to my heart when you write. And I love the insight into the precious family and legacy you have nurtured.
Oh, and I always wondered how to write ba-dum.. or however you did it. Will have to go copy and paste and add to my dictionary!
Love embracing this journey with you! Christi
Girl, now you've got ME sniffling! It is good to know that God is using me again! I'm right with you needing wisdom for boundaries with the blogging world. I get sucked in and can hardly tear my eyes away because there is so much. So. Much.
I wavered on the spelling of BA DUM. I kind of think it should be BA DUMP. So save it with the caveat that it could be BA DUMP if you felt the urge.
Thank you for your words of blessing, Christi! It means so much.
Your post on Today was remarkable.
What a lovely post, Ruthie! Such precious memories…what a blessing! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thank you, Cheryl! Good to see you today! 🙂
Amen! Life is about people and not lists. Needed to hear that. I lose focus. Thank you for your wisdom today. Cheering you on from the #RaRalinkup on Purposeful Faith.
Oh my! How this spoke to my heart! Your day was certainly sprinkled with lovely gifts straight from our Father. Gifts you could accepted or rejected and you chose wisely each time. My heart celebrates with you.
Thank you for sharing with us at Coffee and Conversation.
Blessings,
~Candy
Candy, I almost said no right off the bat that morning, but I'm glad I didn't. I'm thankful for your gracious words and your visit!
I love Coffee and Conversation! Thanks for hosting!
I lose focus quite frequently too and need constant reminding, it seems. We are here to remind each other, though, right? 🙂 I'm glad you found this helpful, I enjoy your blog and the link up each week!
Hi Ruthie! Visiting from Suzie Eller's #livefreeThursday today 🙂 Your post was beautiful, and you definitely have me thinking about all the things I wish would just "get out of my way so I can do my job"! Thanks so much for the refreshing perspective, and the reminder to be grateful for all the wonderful things God has given me!
I'm so glad you found it useful, Katie! I think we all have a tendency to be focused like that. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment!
Oh goodness, I needed this today! And this: "Sometimes we need to defer – because the laundry will be there tomorrow. (Also the rest of your life.)" YES!!! Thank you, Ruthie, for this beautiful reminder!
Hi Crystal, I'm so glad you could relate and found it helpful! YES. Laundry 4-eva. And Eva. You hang in there, mom! And thanks for visiting!
Ok…so I have read about five of your posts right in a row. I don't have time to…I am supposed to be getting me and my family for church…lol!…but your such an amazing writer, blogger, storyteller and very real! I am loving your writing and your authenticity as your share with all of us! Thank you so much! Keep writing! Keep sharing! Keep growing because I love to read all about it 🙂 Your heart for God shines even from the pages that I read today! So, thank you! Blessings sister in Christ!
Johanna, thank for telling me this. There are times when I think, "what difference does this make to anybody?" But I'm striving to remain faithful because I know for a fact that God has brought me to this. so thank you for reading my posts – and I hope you were able to get your family to church on time! Enjoy those boys – someday they will be MEN! 🙂