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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
Find other articles about motherhood
here:
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
Seasons
Do You Know the Word?
Wake Up! Strengthen What Remains
Is Jezebel in Your Midst?
Are You Tired of Being a Mom?
A Day in a Mom's Life
What Talents Are You Wasting as a Mom?
What Have I Learned as a Mom?

What's in It for Me?
Adoption—The Heart of God

The Making of a Man part 4
The Making of a Man part 3
The Making of a Man part 2
The Making of a Man
Are Your Children Safe from Bullying?
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Faith
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Who Are You Watching?
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God's Boundaries
Memories of a Hero Mom
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How Do We Think Like Jesus
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They Galled Her Gammy
When God Speaks
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Are You Tired of the Same, Old Thing?
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Laughter—Why Laugh?
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Encouragements To Declutter
Do You Have Too Much Stuff?
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Are You Scatterbrained?
How Good Are You?
Looking for Something Good To Read?
A Cup of Cold Water
I Will Trust When I Cannot See
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Being in God's Presence
"Einstein and the Professor"
When God Is Silent
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Using Stories to Discipline
The Danger of the Wrong Story
Using Stories to Teach Lessons
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Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Looking for Jesus
What Do Your Prayers Reflect?
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Take Every Thought
Jars of Clay
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How Do You Think Like Jesus?
Reflections from a Mom
Pain—What's It Good For?
Why Marry?
Consider the Robin
One Life Who Made a Difference
What Day Are You Living In?
Interrupted by God
Is Jesus Really the Answer to Everything?
Are You Beat Up?
What's Your Hurry?
Are You a Manipulator?
Are You Salty?
Are You Condemned?
Trying to Understand?
Do You Expect Answers to Your Prayers?
Do You Eat Your Stress?
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Going through Trouble?
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When God Says, "No!"
What Do You Do with Left-Overs?
How Great Is Your God?
Are You Needy?
How Do You See Sin?
What Do Your Words Mean?
Is Evil Overwhelming You?
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Be Careful What You Wish For!
Are Your Prayers Answered?
I Choose Joy
What Have You Learned from Your Hardship?
Who Are You Trying to Change?
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The Danger of "Aloneness"
My Colors
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Are Your Works Approved?
Do You Think You're Stressed?
Is Your Soul Feeling Ragged?
God Speaks to the Heart of the King
What about the Details?
Have You Felt the Long-Suffering of God?
How Does God Lead You?
Do You Have Enough?
Don't Carry More than You Need
Cast the Seed
God Is Faithful
Are You Deceived?
Are You Essential?
Are You Safe?
Are You Tired of the Same Old Thing?
Does the World Make Sense?
Have You Seen God's Majesty?
Do You Feel Judged?
If You Only Had One More Day To Live
Are You Understood?
Do You Long for the Word of God?
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Our Heritage Is Bought by Blood
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Are You Depressed?
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The Simple Life
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Did Your Dream Die?
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Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence
Confessions of a Desperate Mom
Saving for Tomorrow
A Wedding Remembered
Who Will Stand in the Gap?
Are You a Protector or a Ruler?
Who Are You?
Are You an Image Bearer or a Wad of Cells?
Are You a Watchman?
Where Do You Find Meaning?
The Lamb of God as Told by a Scribe
What Love Is This?
Remember: The Symbols of Passover Explained
Tea and Rest
Do You Have Peace?
What Makes a Marriage Work?
When Life Is Awful
Are You Strong Enough?
Rules
Seasons
Be Faithful through Suffering
Do You Know the Word?
Wake Up! Strengthen What Remains
Are You Spit in God's Mouth?
Is Jezebel in Your Midst?
Do You Stand Against Satan Himself?
Are You Tired of Being a Mom?
What in the World Is Happening?
It's Not My Story
How Would Your Faith Compare?
Are You Sinking?
Are You a Rule Follower?
Useful for Him
An Intimate Moment with Mary
The Worldview that Makes the
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Thoughts to Ponder
What Does It Take To Know the
    Heart of God?

See the Story in the Stars
Do the Scriptures Burn You?
Being in His Presence
Contentment: It's Not for the Timid
How Secure Are You?
How Do You Respond To Stupid People?
The Earthworm Is My Hero
Heart Issues or Issues of the Heart
Things Aren't Always What They Seem
More faith articles are found here:
alt
under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Or here:
alt
under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Articles on Suffering can be found  here, 
alt
under Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
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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.

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