So Full

Now that cold weather is here, getting everyone ready in the mornings seems like a Herculean task.  They dig in their heels from wake-up to bus-time because none of my kids wants to go outside.  They hate that it takes an extra ten minutes to get into snowpants and boots, jackets, and hats and mittens. They hate the struggle of looping their backpacks over puffy sleeves and bulky shoulders.  So all morning long they dawdle and whine and moan and refuse to cooperate.

It's not my favourite.

Yesterday was particularly hard, and after we all made it to the bus stop, three children were sobbing. (The fourth was teetering on the brink.)  I briefly considered quitting.  "What would they do all day," I wondered, "If I just stayed in bed?"  But I know they'd soon be fighting in my room and who would teach them how to get along? You know it.

The other day I was walking by my mirror and idly thinking "ugh you're ugly" and God reminded me to take every thought captive so I stood there and tried to deliberately compliment my body.

"You're strong," I said, and then a verse I had read that morning echoed in my mind. "I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of answered prayers." (Psalm 13:6, the Message).

And suddenly I realized that these stretched-out muscles that look like another baby on the way are the result of the babies that God sent to answer my prayers.  And my hair is greying because I'm getting older - because God answers my prayers for yet another day with my family.  And I'm standing here in my big warm house with more than I need - so full of answered prayers.

I'm so full of answered prayers.

And God reminded me of that again today when I straggled home from the bus stop, worn out from the morning battle.

I didn't lose my temper - maybe the biggest answered prayer of all. We didn't miss the bus.  Patrick had a safe drive to work. Everyone's lunch bag was packed full of good nutrition.  Everyone was wrapped up cozy in their snowsuits.

Yes.
Even bedraggled from wrestling a four year old into three layers of clothes. (My darling four year old!) So full of answered prayers.

And thinking on that lifted up my weary heart.
So I thought I would share, in case yours needs a lift too.  In case you have a long list of yet-to-be-answereds.  In case your battle feels more like a sludge through the mud instead of a bound over a mountain top.

We are so full of answered prayers.