It started with a prayer... I set the clock for 6 am, hit snooze but got up anyway. Then I went and hid away, to pray.
My prayer was this:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this day, the day that you made. Thank you for the privilege to serve you again. Lord, while I am seeking this perfect day... Show me what that looks like, in you... Not in me. Give me patience and love. Give me kindness and compassion. Let me give time to my family and help me to remember to smile, genuinely.
Amen
And then the day started. A cup of coffee and checking emails. Having conversations with the kiddos, hugs and helping them get dressed and ready for the day.
By 7:30 I had already failed. With the small boy child who, so sweetly and innocently comes over to me and says, "um mom, I have show and tell. I need a bag and four things. I need a picture, a toy and a stuffed animal." That's three things and we're trying to get out of the house. I have good intentions and point those two things out to him... That's when the small boy talks back and loses it in a fit --- so does this mom! All reason gone...
Now to pray again... And I do. Acknowledging that I failed and return me to a right feeling of love and grace.
Physical therapy for my ankle this morning... The office was in "chaos" according to my therapist.. I told her it looked pretty controlled to me but the "was the goal". Pain in healing... That is what I would title the excercises this morning. Lots of rubs on the scars to break up scar tissue, gritting through teeth and trying to remember to breathe. I did have a good laugh... One of the excercises was to put a "shooter" marble in a cone... With my toes... 30 times. Fun stuff!
I find it interesting that her goal is controlled chaos. Everyone is still smiling and pleasant, greeting everyone by name.
The rest of the morning and afternoon was productive and busy. I was thankful for happy and graceful conversation, which are a gift these days.
Capped the day off with Bible study and the hope and promises that live in Christ Jesus.
I feel guilty following up that last statement with what is about to come... But this is the day... that The Lord has made so I am doing my best to Rejoice and be Glad in it... I am also going to say before hand that we have an elderly dog... She's like 16 sooooooooo...
We were looking forward to coming home, putting the kids in bed and starting a movie. We were talking about that as we unlocked the large wooden door that sparates our home from the outside... I hear the groans first of my husband, followed by my kids.... I will spare you all the deets... But our wonderful, elderly, faithful dog managed to p--p in 3 of the 5 rooms of our home, including the entry.
Really not a perfect day...
But... It did give me the opportunity to mop my entry way, something I haven't done since before my accident. Moreover, I enjoyed it! The smell of the floor cleaner, the bubbles and warm water. Being able to lower myself to the ground and get back up again.
I am thankful... Forgiveness first when I lost it with my ill-prepared son, controlled happy chaos, grace filled conversations, a wonderful bible study in the book of John about the hope and promises that live in Christ and the realization that time does heal wounds and I will not be down forever.
I am thankful and blessed to have had this day! Day 1 - to start and end the day with intentional prayer.
My Lord,
Thank you for this wonderful day and the storm outside! Thank you for this day... A day that showed me that all things really are in the way you look at them. There is joy in the mess... There is happiness to be found in the busy-ness and grace when the not-so-nice stuff comes out.
I cannot wait to see what tomorrow holds. Keep me patient, loving and kind. Help me to serve as you would serve.
All things I ask according to your will... Jesus name I pray. Amen!