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Are you tired of the same old thing?

(I almost changed this article to reflect what our world is experiencing now, but I didn't, because life does continue.
And those things that must be done, still need to be done. And being a mom still requires routine, even if it is hectic.)
Laundry. Making dinner. Messes. Spills.
Routine. Sameness. Doing something over and over and over again.
I had one son who without fail would spill his drink every dinner. It was not because he was clumsy; he was pretty graceful on the baseball field. But without fail, at dinner, his water would be spilled. And the water would run across the table to me.
As toddlers walk, they often turn to watch you. They would run into corners and walls because they didn’t watch where they were going. When would they learn? 
My motto became, “Watch where you’re going, not where you’ve been.” 
I don’t know how many times I told them to “Watch!” Then have to deal with their tears from running into things.
Sometimes that’s all I felt like I did.
That is being faithful in the little things.

Know what faithfulness is?
Being there.
A true friend sticks with you when you are at your worst.
It’s the daughter caring for her elderly mom, despite the mom’s cantankerous, demanding ways. 
It’s that mom who cares for her family every day, doing the same old thing.
It’s that mom praying for her wayward child, believing God will bring him back home.
That routine. That sameness. Over and over again.
When will it be enough? They will always hungry.  There is always laundry.
Where did this dirt come from?

Growing up, I received great comfort knowing I could come home from school and my mom would be there. Later when she started working, that security and assurance was missing. I knew she would return, but she wasn’t there now. 

My husband describes coming home without me being home. 
He roams the house aimlessly, unable to focus on what he should do.
My presence gives stability.
Are  you tired of staying home? Of being the mom? Of doing the same old thing?

I was reminded of this tiredness on a project. I had purchased plywood and ripped them into six strips for a “wood” floor. Each piece had to be sanded, without ripples, bumps or indentions. Each strip took fifteen minutes of sanding.
I was covered in fine dust. 
Sand. Sand. Sand another board I couldn’t hurry the process.
No one noticed my job. 
But if I did not do my job right, everyone would know when they walked on that board and got splinters. 

 

We are called to be like Christ. 
That seems like such a glorious thing. And it is.
Aren’t we attracted by His love and astounded of His mercy. 
Yet He is a God of faithfulness.
He is always there. 
That is good. 
But His faithfulness means more than that. 

Did you notice the sun?
It came up today.
It came up yesterday, too.
In fact it has been rising since its creation. How many years ago is that?
That’s sameness. Routine. Doing the same thing every day.
That’s our God of faithfulness at work.
Maybe you live where you can’t see the stars.
But if you could, you could go out at night, every night, unless there’s cloud cover, and see them. 
They are there. Twinkling. Filling the vast night sky with light.
Even if no one notices.
That’s God’s faithfulness.

Winter comes with its cold, dark time.
But we can always hope for spring. 
Why?
Because it always comes.
That’s God’s faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

We say we want to become like Christ. 
And we do.
But that means becoming faithful.
In. The. Little. Things.
Doing those little things, every day that no one sees. No one notices. 
No one appreciates.
But God does.
Because He, too, is faithful to be there by your side.
He notices everything you do.
Even your tears. “You have kept count of my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle–have not You recorded them in your book?” Psalm 56:8.

Tired of routine? Of doing the same thing? Of cleaning another mess?
Our God wants us to be like Him. 
He values faithfulness.
He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.” Matthew 25:23.

Whether it be cleaning yet another spill, or sanding one more board, or making one more dinner, I want God to find me faithful.

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:23. 

I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras


Displaying all 2 comments

Just today I was considering having a pity party over the "sameness" of my life. Then you go and blow my bubble! And Matthew tells us that our reward for being faithful in little things is to be handed an even bigger responsibility. Not what we always want! Yet Matthew goes on to say that then we may enter into the joy of our Lord. Wow! I have lots to think about this evening. Thank you once again for sharing, you do hit the nail on the head!

Thank you for this, I needed this today!

Motherhood
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Memories of a Hero Mom
They Called Her Gammy
Are You Tired of the Same, Old Thing?
Who's Responsible for the Children
The Battle for Our Children
​Dear Master of Hands
Close to Home
Reflections from a Mom
Just the Mother-In-Law
A Mom Who Knew Her Job
Letting Go of my Fourth Son
Making a House a Home
How Do I Pray?
Picking up Acorns
Changed by God
Last Times
Are You a Failure?
What To Do Now?
Are You Tired of the Same Old Thing?
What's in a Book, Anyway?
Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence
Confessions of a Desperate Mom
You Are Not Alone
A Wedding Remembered
Sunday Morning Excuses—Is It Worth It?
Stages of Parental Control
Homeschooling Myths Debunked
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Author of Biblical fiction, married to my best friend, and challenged by eight sons’ growing pains as I write about what matters.