--What Prayer Can Do~~
-Power in our Day-To-Day Lives~

~~JUST A FEW weeks into summer break and I was already at a breaking point. Five children at home meant being on call 24/7.

"Mom, play with me!" seven-year-old Lea called.
Before I could even read the game's instructions, eight-year-old Jordan ran in. "Mom, help me fill these water balloons," he said. "There's going to be a battle. An epic battle!"

He ran to the kitchen where 12-year-old Austin and five-year-old Julia were waiting for lunch. "I want grilled cheese" said Austin.
"I hate grilled cheese?" Julia said.
You loved it yesterday," I said.-
"I hate it now."

In the playpen, baby Nathan was teething. I picked him up to soothe him.

Board game opponent, water balloon infantryman, short-order cook. Was there no end to the jobs a mom had to do? How would I get through a whole summer of this?

It wasn't the work that got to me. It was the lack of gratitude. I'd been running around all day trying to fulfill every request my children had--not one of them had offered a thank-you!

"I'm going out to get the mail," I said, putting Nathan back in his playpen. The walk down the driveway would do me good. Just getting outside into the quiet was a relief. For a few minutes, it was just me and God. "These kids don't appreciate anything I do," I griped as I walked. "They make demand after demand. God, I need help. I need time to get the laundry done in peace. I need to get through this month without any surprise expenses. I need Julia to remember she loves grilled cheese. I need...."

I stopped short. I was piling demands on God just the way my kids did to me. Had I thanked Him for all he's already done for me? No!

"Thank You, Lord God, for my family..." I said. The rest of the way to the mailbox, I thanked Him for my blessings--especially the blessing of being a Mom. By the time I got back to the house, I felt as if I had everything I needed to deal with the kids.

Those mailbox prayers got to be a daily habit. Gratitude got me through the summer and beyond.~~
-GUIDEPOSTS
["In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." ~~(1 Thessalonians 5:18) ]
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