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The day I ignored the laundry and discovered a more valuable load.

One Saturday morning I sat curled up on the couch, nursing my cup of coffee.  My husband, 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.

Learning to Defer:

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 “helpmate” 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 my middle we’d catch the flick before she left for a summer tour in a couple days.

Sometimes we moms need to defer - even if we have mounds of laundry on the bathroom floor. Click To Tweet

It’s Worthwhile

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

Home again, I blogged a few minutes and threw in a load of laundry.

 ENTER:  oldest daughter, husband, and Tiny Tornado (number one grandson).

The Laundry Can Wait

Sometimes we Gigis need to defer – even if the laundry sits in the washer overnight.

Dusk featured a campfire 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 enjoyed 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

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 me 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 composed a text of appreciation, read it aloud, then hit send. He expressed a desire to have been part of the fun.

What a Night!  

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. Click To Tweet

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. Click To Tweet

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

 

What about you?  Do you find it hard to lay aside your duties to spend time with your people?

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