It’s been one of those days, you know?
One where you get up late and spend the rest of the day trying to get back those lost few minutes, certain that it’s their absence that has made life overly-frustrating today.
Hurry up! We can’t be late to school again.
Do you want overnight suspension?
You owe lunch money.
Do I have any change in the bottom of my purse?
How about on the floor?
Deadlines to meet.
A budget to tweak.
The dog threw up on the new carpet.
Nothing in the fridge for dinner.
I need gas in the car & it’s pouring rain.
What do you mean, the washer’s not working?
Who left the garage door open so the dogs can get to the litter box?
Piles of laundry.
Did you feed the iguana?
I said, DID YOU FEED THE IGUANA!!!???
5th grade project due tomorrow.
Do we have any poster board?
Just life. All of the things on that list above are not normally tasks or responsibilities that freak me out and leave me winded. I’ve learned to take things one at a time and check off boxes. BUT, with those few minutes from the morning missing, normal tasks and responsibilities seem amplified and too many and mighty to deal with today.
Enter 5th grade son (the one who waited until this very afternoon to mention that he has a project on the USS Arizona due in the morning, in less than 14 hours).
He carries his little CD player/boom box combo with the broken antenna into my bedroom, where I’m putting clean sheets on my bed. Without saying a word, he plugs it in and tunes it to WMHK, 89.7.
In that very second, the missing minutes from the morning come crashing down on me. They are heavy, heavy, heavy…like lead. I don’t even recall now what song was playing, but I do recall the face of my precious, all too understanding eleven year old as he hugged me and said, “The music always seems to make you feel better, momma.”
Yes, the music does, this particular music. Songs of worship and praise. Rhythmic, soul-filled scripture, brought to life in lyrics and stories. Melodies so beautiful, so uplifting, so inspiring…bringing the face of Our Heavenly Father into focus. Worship.
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things! The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!” Psalm 118:14-16
I am so thankful for how my son reminded me in a quick, sincere gesture of what is really important. When you hold up a very bad, terrible, horrible day to the light of the Savior, how easy it is to see what’s important in comparison. Just like the hymn says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus…and all the things of the earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.”
No, I am not smarter than a 5th grader, but I sure am glad to have one living in my house. He makes me happy when skies are gray. 🙂
the toenail 