A Special Kind of Mess

My battle these days is the constant desire to complain. I want to share with the world that my situation is harder than most. That I have every right to be tired and fussy and a bit grumpy because no one else is in a situation as difficult as mine. Then I think biblicaly and rationally and I know my mind is wrong. That I am sinning with every one of these thoughts and that I had better cut it out or my days will become as miserable as my thoughts.

With these on going debates in my head I find I am learning to be disciplined. To harness my thoughts before they become actions and to stop myself from even going there. It has been a great exercise in self control and I do fail at it often.

There are parts to my situation, however that are unique and do make things more challenging.

Take this mess for example:



Not everyone has an entire room devoted to dangerous tools to help build that said room. And if they do have those things, they aren't often part of your childrens play area plus your heating supply. Every day we all enter that area of the house to add wood, play on a toy or sit and read books.

The above pictures actually required close to 20 minutes just to clean up again. Why not simply move the screws and nails to somewhere out of reach? you may be asking. That is where things get tricky. There isn't really anywhere else to put anything. We live in our construction! There is no way of closing it off or making it much safer.

These on going messes that drive me crazy add up over a days time and I will often find myself muttering under my breath just how stressful life is and asking: why?

Then I take the advice a fellow mom gave me. Sing!

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy on me!

And it helps. It reminds me that these little messes are nothing compared to the mess of my sin. My heart and mind are full of dirty little messes that need tidying. And if I don't work on them on a daily basis then they will definitely take longer then 20 minutes to clean up. God is so merciful to me in my messes. Where is mt mercy to my lively boys?

To everyone who knows what I am talking about, find comfort in knowing that you are not alone. Many people are going through the same thing too. And even if it isn't the same thing, it is just as difficult for them as it is for you. Struggles are struggles! Remember what we are told. All these things are light and momentary troubles that will soon fade away. Take the moment of frustration and turn it into a time of thanksgiving to God. It is good for the soul.