Circa Nov. 2005.
It was one of those days.
I woke up tired thanks to a few nighttime feedings. Changed a diaper. Wiped a nose. Fed the boys their breakfast. Cleaned the breakfast off the table. Cleaned the breakfast off the baby, and the floor, and my shirt. Wiped their noses. Put the baby in the bath. Dressed the other two. Dried the baby off, diapered and dressed him.
"Mommy! Im done!" Wiped a bum. Swept the floor. Got out the legos. Picked up and made happy the crying baby. Did the dishes. Wiped noses. Changed a diaper. Got out snacks. Cleaned up snacks. Changed clothes that had been spilled on. Read 'Thomas and friends'. Made lunch. Spoon fed the baby. Started a load of laundry. Cleaned up lunch. Put away the legos. Dispensed cold medications. Nursed the baby. Put him down for a nap and whispered, "I didnt even know you 5 months ago and now your running my life!"
Then I felt exhasted.
I sat on the couch to fold laundry and turned on KBYU to get inspired or uplifted. The devotional topic didn't help. It was on missionary work.
I had been married for 5 and 1/2 years and had 3 kids at home. Three was so much harder than two! My life was a far cry than that of someone going abroad, or even out in the neighborhood, spreading the gospel. I felt like there wasn't much time to do anything out side of my busy, unimportant, monotonous days. I thought, "I should have gone on a mission. Served God while I could have."
I turned if off, and laid down to read my scriptures.
I was in Mathew 25. The first parable was the ten virgins. I compared it to food storage. Guilt. I had lots of beans, but thats about it. And then the talents. More guilt. If anything I was loosing talents, hiding them under the couch along with hot wheels and marbles.
Then the goats and the sheep parable. At the second coming Christ sits at his throne and separates all the gathered people on the earth one from another........
"as a sheperd divideth his sheep from the goats:
and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee and hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
when Luke woke up I gave him a great big kiss and happily went on my busy, important, monotonous day.
19 comments:
Thanks, Alisa. I don't know why I have such a hard time with one small boy. I think you're a saint on so many levels.
I love you writing! It truly is inspirational! We actually read the scripture you quoted today in Gospel Essentials...I to thought I want to be a sheep. I think to often I am stubborn like a goat!
Thanks for sharing!
Reminds me of your own mother 25 years ago.
What a great post, Alisa. You really are an excellent writer--thanks for keeping us focused on what is important.
Inspiring. I think I'm going to do an FHE lesson tonight on that scripture. I plan to go find more noses to wipe! B
awesome, I couldnt agree more. Thanks for reminding us!
I related to all your feelings, keep this stuff coming!
Loved the post. I think we all need more of that perspective.
Alisa You are an inspiration to me, I think you should become a writer. I seriously wake up each day, excited to read the next chapter of your life you inspire me to be a better mom, wife and person. Thanks for being an example to me. Miriam Brown
Well, to tell you the truth, I would rather clean up snacks and change diapers than do my homework... which I should do right about now...
That's a Sunday winner. Thanks Alisa, you're awesome. B
That was a lovely reminder to us all...we need those, thank you.
B
Thanks Alisa. I needed that. I keep having those "Do I dare have more kids? This pregnancy is sucking the life out of me!" thoughts. Now I'll just think about how I'm feeding my little fetus with every ounce of energy and love I have. Oh yeah, and the rest of my family too.
Thank you for sharing this insight. I have thought about it since I read it. I shared your thoughts with one of the sisters whom I visit teach today, and it launched a wonderful and inspiring gospel discussion which we both needed. Thank you for reminding us that we perform Christlike service whenever we serve one of our Heavenly Father's children.
I will always feel good reading those scriptures from now on. I remember when I read in a book that putting dinner on the table every night is a service project. I'd always just thought of it as more of a task. Because of good YW leaders etc., I get excited when I hear the term "service project." Somewhere in the marriage/ motherhood transformation, the leaf raking, carol singing, heart attacking etc. had turned to nose wiping, diaper changing, and dinner prep. Yes, that service counts too! "And when ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." I hope I didn't misquote that.
Alisa, my parents just showed me your blog and I just love reading it. You are such an example to me! We love you and pray for you. love, Shellie (formerly Johnson) and Philip Gossling
ps. We have a blog... if you could send me your email I can invite you to see it! :) My email is shellie.gossling@gmail.com
Love it. Thanks for helping me look at my "service" in a different way!
Alis- wondering if I can share this in my talk on Sunday for Mothers Day? -Natalee p.s I sent you an email.
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