"Accomplish Much?"

What are (some of) the things I did today?

• Woke up one grumpy child and one moderately happy child, and woke again, and sang to, and prodded, and laid on top of, until I got some sort of reaction.
• Learned that if I just leave my 3 year old alone to make his own bed his own way and put on his clothes, morning are much happier where he is concerned.
• Skipped the "chore" checkbox on the morning chart because we were running out of time.
• Made lunch after all since I felt at the moment eating hot lunch at school is a waste of money.
• Hurried my sleepy head through her morning routine, threw her hair into a ponytail and out the door to school at the close to last minute.
• Picked up my dead cell phone from a friend's where I left it yesterday. 
• Treated myself to a thermal cup full of pumpkin latte from a gas station because there is no way I'm paying $5 and waiting forever in the Coffee Goddess' drive-thru.
• Stopped by my husband's office to grab the phone car charger.
• Arrived at my church for our first Mothers-Of-Pre-Schoolers (MOPS) meeting, found my son's childcare room. Was pleased to see that he is with Miss Beth again.
• Helped set up the food for the MOPS meeting.
• Enjoyed the first morning of MOPS this year. Was challenged to carefully choose words that express encouragement, love and truth when speaking to others, especially my husband.
• Stopped at a thrift store to find some pants to fit my boy; ended up finding a dress for my daughter and some brand new sweaters for myself.
• Skipped running to the store for milk because I spent too much time at the thrift store.
• Arrived home and decided the weather was too beautiful to go inside.
• Ate lunch with my son outside.
• Prepared the envelope printer and mailing software in hopes of printing at least 7,500 envelopes (of 151,000 total).
• Ran back and forth attempting to involve my son in an activity so I could get the 7,500 printed.
• Resigned finally to popping Tom and Jerry into the portable DVD player and setting it up in the basement near my workstation.
• Discovered (late tonight) that the reason my kitchen floor is sticky is due to the maple syrup my son drank and dripped while "getting some grapes."
• Printed about one seventh of my hoped for 7,500, due to printer, software and toddler problems. 
• Dragged a none-too-happy 3 year old away from Tom and Jerry to go pick up my daughter from school.
• Talked to my daughter about show and tell and library day and the exciting events of her schoolday while cautioning her to not brother her sleeping brother. 
• Took the long route home for the sake of my son who was taking a much-need nap in his carseat.
• Listened to my husband for awhile.
• Cooked a quick yet semi-healthy dinner.
• Ate outside again.
• Went on a walk/bike ride with my husband and kids, enjoying some ice cream at the halfway point in our route.
• Noted how the light angles of the evening sun reflected beautifully on God's creation and tried to take some photos.
• Returned home and started to teach my daughter to tie a bow without letting her become too discouraged. A daunting task for a five-year old.
• Implemented my kids' bedtime routine.
• Picked up clutter and attempted to make my house less of a disaster long after the kids went to bed.
• Checked Email and Facebook and listened to a short lesson on one section of the book of Job.
• Wrote this list for far too many minutes. All the while I have realized that though I attempted to let God live through me today I have neglected to devote some one-on-one time to allow Him to speak to me.

Though these tasks may have been necessary and some even noble, the list above is not an encouraging set of "accomplishments." My day lacks rhythm. A harmonious, joyful and productive life is centered around a rhythm of practices to draw one near to God. As I draw near to God, He draws near to me.

Though I felt like my day was somewhat purposeful and productive, it was far from what it could have been were I fully tuned into the voice of the Spirit in my inner being. What God-Given opportunities did I overlook or what needs did I fail to notice, what of God's work did I  just pass by? The moment by moment prayers throughout my day, good deeds, and snippet of scripture I wrote to a friend was far from adequate to satisfy my soul's true longing: to live every moment for God's glory, to be saturated by His love, to be filled with His Spirit.

I hate dragging myself out of bed shortly after six am. I stay up far too late most nights because I enjoy uninterrupted quiet time to tidy up, get ready for the next day, read, write, pray or think. As much as I am a night-owl, I must commit time in the first moments of my day to communicating with my Lord through quietness, prayer and scripture and seeking God's will for my day. I must create moments in the day to see the Lord at work in and around me and to seek His direction. What would my day look like then? I hope to soon discover.

O God, You are My God. Earnestly I seek You, my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary. I have beheld Your power and glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands, My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods. With singing lips my mouth will praise You. Ps 63