Bless My Perseverance

Nothing like reading a little St. Josemaria Escriva to get you out of a rut.

" O blessed perseverance of the donkey that turns the waterwheel! Always the same pace. Always around the circle. One day after another, everyday the same.

Without that there would be no ripeness in the fruit, nor blossom in the orchard, nor scent of flowers in the garden. Carry this thought to your interior life." -St. Josemaria Escriva

Wow. I am doing important work here. I know this, but sometimes I do need a reminder. My day in day out is important. It may seem monotonous, the never ending laundry piles as I think to myself "Didn't I just wash this T-shirt?" The constant meal preparations, as someone is always hungry. Sweeping the always dirty floor. Reading the same book over and over to two little preschoolers. Sometimes it seems never ending but it is valuable. What makes it so valuable is how I do it. How do I handle my day in day out?

I have to tell you, It seems I have been walking around my home lately, not really getting much accomplished. I think a lot of it has to do with the disorder around here. I am not quite sure when or why it happened, but it did. It is not an obvious disorder to the outsider, but it is so to me. It is glaring me in the face and it feels like a huge mountain that I need to climb. I realize I am the one who has to fix this. I am the one who has to restore the order. Why? Because I am a wife and a mom and it is my job. It is my "waterwheel" to turn. It can either be well oiled and my walk will be light; meaning I can have a smooth running orderly household. Or it can be full of dirt and pebbles and hard to turn, it will be hard to keep my pace and be constant. I will surely tire out.

I have started looking at how I spend my days. What do I spend my time doing? The answer? I am basically moving "stuff" around all day, mainly clothes and toys. We have to many. So, I have been purging. I am filling trash bags with things to donate and to throw away. I have gone through all of our clothes and the girls room so far. I started to do the girls room and I was overwhelmed at the number of toys and clothes and shoes. If I am overwhelmed, how must they feel? No wonder they have had a hard time keeping their room picked up. The most surprising thing to me has been the girls reaction when I started to reduce things. They have been very generous in their giving. They want peace and order also. Children need this! I think of this and I persevere.

This "circle" that I "walk" everyday is valuable. I am growing my own "fruit". I want them to blossom and grow and ripen. I want there scent to be beautiful!!

Comments

[5Gustos]

Bless you, Kirsten. Yes, you are doing a very valuable job; a very worthy and worthwhile one at that! As a mother, I totally understand where you are right now. Keep up the good work!

[julie]

Very inspirational!

[SHEAFMom]

You inspired me :-) I finished reorganizing my school room!!! Now to get next years curriculum in order, ah, my waterwheel.