The Best Days of My Life!

By Contributing Writer, Tina Entz

 

“Day after day! I get absolutely NOTHING accomplished!”

I am embarrassed to admit those as my own words. I was engulfed in utter selfishness. I rambled to my husband about how I tried to dust a shelf, just ONE shelf, and was able to get one fourth of it done before I was needed in yet another matter. My husband listened as usual and then replied.

“Nothing accomplished? The children are your greatest accomplishment each day!”

I couldn’t argue with that, and I am sure I blushed from my embarrassment because I knew that my attitude was so wrong. The time is going to come, all to quickly enough, when the dust will no longer be found upon my shelves. Today I might think how nice it would be to have a dust free shelf, but “tomorrow”, when my children’s little voices are but a memory, I will think about how wonderful it would be to see a tiny fingerprint on that dust laden shelf.

My children scatter themselves and their things all over the basement floor, and my first thought is to be irritated by the mess and to tell them to be sure to get it all cleaned up, just as it was before.  But I have to stop myself.  Someday I will miss their chitter chatter and the literal maze upon the floor, and I will want to bid them come back to sprawl themselves out and play awhile.

But they will not.

This time is but a moment that is passing and when it is gone nothing will ever bring it back again.

This Christmas I was blessed with a precious, unexpected gift, at just the time I needed it most. One of my husband’s aunts handed me a book with hopes that it would bless me. Bless me indeed. The title of this book is Prayers and Peanut Butter-The Mother Book by Barbara Classen.  Through reading this book, the Lord has given me renewed vision and a plan for those moments when I let my “feelings” get a hold of me.

“Do we think of our children as bothers instead of blessings? Our outlook makes the difference. Have we caught God’s plan in the verse about being a joyful mother of children? It’s morning; if I’m grouchy, I can guarantee that in thirty minutes the whole family will be grouching and grousing. If I’m cheerful, the morning sparkles with sunny words. We need to toss feeling out the window and be civil even when we don’t feel cheerful.”

So I have a renewed vision.  I see it and I will strive to live it.  Some days being cheerful will come easily and naturally.  Some days having a cheerful heart and countenance is based solely on the choice to do so!  Some days the blessings are obvious, shining brightly right in front of us.  Some days we need to have the self- discipline to look for them!

Gather the children, Mother, The little heads close to your knee

In the hush of the beautiful twilight, And talk to them tenderly,

When the bright eyes grow tired and restless

And gaze at you wistfully And the sweet lips beg for a story,

Then gather them close to your knee.

Not long will your little ones linger

So talk to them while you may.

 A world may be better tomorrow

 For the story you’re telling today.

So tell them the story of Jesus,

For the child’s heart is tender and true;

And not all the teachers and preachers can guide them,

oh Mother, like you. -Author Unknown

God will lead me one step at a time, and I will make the most of each one. I know these truly ARE the best days of my life!

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3. Christian Friendship Modeled in the Life of Lady Janet Colquhoun