Mama said there'll be days like this

Today's got me singing "Mama said there'll be days like this, there'll be days like this my mama said" 

mama said!

mama said!

One child came strolling down the stairs 10 minutes after I had crawled out of bed for my 'coffee and Bible time.' Okay, wow, it is 5:50am...what?! Head phones and iPad for that one. 

My coffee filter drooped down so my coffee was brown water with grounds all in. Dang it. Watch it brew the whole time so that doesn't happen again.

The other little one awakens and cries every single time I put him down. AH. Hard to make breakfast with one arm. 

The early riser is screaming and crying because she wants a cookie and ramen noodles for breakfast.

The little one flails as I try and change a poopy diaper, all while grabbing his un-clothed crotch, getting poop everywhere. Then proceeds to knock me in the face with a toy because he was flailing everywhere. Fat Lip from a 14 month old. Awesome. Is it inappropriate to put him in time-out outside for awhile?

The morning goes on with more screaming because of stolen toys and whining/crying because I gave someone the wrong color cup and the little one whacked the other one in the head with a curtain rod. Then I made a very timely save as the little one managed to knock a 7 foot wall mirror down on himself. 

Deep breath, it's only 8:30am.

After all of that I was VERY thankful for the little time I did get with Jesus and my coffee today...it saved my sanity and was exactly what this weary mama heart needed to hear.

Hebrews 6:10-12

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.  We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

If I put myself in that verse, "his people" are the tiny humans running around our home that are actually ultimately His, and He's saying I see your work. I see the love you pour out every day. I have not and will not forget the work you do day in and day out. You are seen.

And most importantly.... 

YOU ARE DOING A GOOD WORK. DON'T STOP. KEEP GOING. BE DILIGENT. DON'T BECOME LAZY IN THIS WORK. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT TO BE HAD. THERE IS GREAT FRUIT TO BE HAD. 

Thank you, God. I needed that encouragement. I needed to be reminded that I am not in this alone. That He sees me. He is proud of me. And the work I (we) do with these kids is not in vain. It is tempting to get lazy and stop being diligent about our demanding, constant work as parents because the fruit is not instantaneous. There is no instant gratification in parenting, amen!? Bummer. But here's god reminding us that it will come. And it'll be grand. But it won't come without the consistent work and diligence of keeping our hands at work. 

So i'll go get back to this "work" aka my crazy 3 and 1 year old, and remember that I'm doing a good work. And I'll be expectant for the sweet fruit.