Do you believe that discipline and diligence is a good thing?
How about discipline and diligence in the unglamorous everyday stuff – like laundry, cleaning, keeping the kids well-fed, and the like?
I may even venture to say that discipline and diligence in the unglamorous everyday stuff can be fun…as we keep the goal of a well-managed household, well-maintained work-family balance, and well-organized inner life in sight and work towards it everyday.
Now I’m not saying I have it it all figured out…in fact, we don’t need to have it all figured out.
What I can say is I’ve been after this character trait for YEARS. I’ve done many things…I’ve prayed, journaled, read books (including the best Love Letter I’ve ever read!), listened to audios, taken online classes, and attended seminars. In the midst of being a stay at home mom, I’ve never stopped learning how I can improve my daily game.
And it IS a game. A good game…a game where I win with the empowering help of my God.
Now I don’t play the game well everyday…
But ah, the sweet sweet days where I have gotten the housework done like clockwork, the kids fed and nurtured, my hubby respected and appreciated…with time leftover to boot. Those are the days I have immense joy and satisfaction with the work of my hands. I’m so thankful when that happens, because it’s when I feel God’s pleasure – like Eric Liddel, the Olympic gold medalist and runner in the movie Chariots of Fire, who said, “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.”
When we take the time to sow seeds of personal growth, it’ll happen more often.
And even when it happens once in a while, there’s hope. Something wonderful and healthy to strive for.
That’s when we’re prospering where we’re planted.
And that’s when the unglamorous everyday stuff is FUN!
Tags: mindset, unglamorous
