I had 13 reasons to say "no": 1. It was too cold to do it on the outside table which is where they usually do it because of all the mess. 2. I had just a few hours earlier vacuumed and mopped the white floor 3. We had out of town guests for the previous three days that had just left, this is the kids' last week of school before Christmas which brings all kinds of busy-ness, and these two things combined to make me very tired by the time 4PM came around today.
And reasons number 4. through 13. : I was enjoying my spotless floor and wasn't ready to see it go!! (Imagine that statement repeated over and over.)
But thankfully God took over my mind (if not yet my attitude), I gritted my teeth, and said "yes" in a voice that was definitely closer to a sigh than enthusiasm at the activity.
They played, I put in huge effort towards digging dried-out Play-doh out of the inside of Play-doh tool and was finally successful!
I was trying to have a good attitude, saying some prayers for God to help me ignore the mess rapidly forming at my feet.
But, seriously, He would have had to strike me with blindness to be able to ignore this!
But still, when the kids finished I was feeling a little of the coveted good attitude about the mess and instead of complaining about it, I was able to say, "Okay, let's get out the little brooms and dustpans."
And we all began to clean up.A few minutes into the cleaning up my 6 year old suddenly stopped and said,
"I know what a family's for -- to work, play and love!"
Now I certainly did not plan that lesson, but I am so thankful that somehow from the Play-doh play and cleaning up he got that message!
And to think how close I really came to saying "No!" to the Play-doh today!
And in case I have not made it clear, this was all God, not me. I didn't want them to play with the Play-doh.
And to emphasize the importance I place on this revelation from my son, check out #5 from this list I posted nearly a year ago!
Find more Thursday Thirteen here and Thankful Thursday here.
That's so cool! I will have to remember this when I want to say "no," but God wants me to say "YES!"
ReplyDeleteI love your honesty. Everyday issues can be wonderful teaching moments even for us adults.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Debbie
Awesome! I say no way too often...for the all the reasons you mentioned :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteThis was great. Don't you just love when you press on (when you really didn't want to) and you find the Lord had something wonderful in mind. Check out my post today if you get the chance, it is another example of this. Have a good day. Blessings to you, Debbie
ReplyDeleteThe floor picture looks all too familiar. I love the link to the list. What a great idea.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sweet! It's so easy to lose patience when kids make a mess. You did so well!
ReplyDeleteAwe, I can't wait till mine get to that age, and I hear you on floor messes, sometimes I wonder why I sweep my floor at all.
ReplyDeleteI try to stop myself before I say no to my kids and question why I'm saying no. Is it really because they shouldn't do something or is it just easier for me to tell them no? It usually turns out pretty great when I say yes.
ReplyDelete