Perspective

I received this in an email today.  It was perfect timing, and I know that someone was thinking of me as I sent my desperate prayers heavenward for some help, guidance, inspiration-- anything.  Such a simple change of thought, and yet it makes all the difference.  Life doesn’t get any easier.  My husband will not start working less hours any time soon, and my beautiful girls are growing and changing every day.  Instead of dwelling on how unfair it all is, or how I wish my kids would sleep better, or how I have so much to do every day I am just going to change my perspective and remember that I am so lucky to have a house to live in, children to raise, clothes to wear and wash, and food to cook for our family. 

Perspective #1--The perspective I usually take
Doing laundry is miserable. Just when I finish 8 loads and finally put it away, the laundry baskets are overflowing again. My 1 year-old won't sleep. My kids are always fighting (right now it’s one-sided, with Kara smothering/choking/stealing toys from/jumping on Sophie and Sophie crying for help), complaining, whining, screaming, and moaning. My husband works long hours, and I had to mow the lawn myself. It takes two hours to get my kids in bed, and there is never any extra time for myself.

Perspective #2--The perspective I decided to take starting now
I am the head laundress for a very royal family. I have found that my chubby little baby loves to be propped up in all the laundry while I fold it and talk baby language with her. One day the mound of laundry reaching half way up to my ceiling will be a small mound of just mine and my husbands laundry, and I will have no chubby little baby to keep me company while I fold it. I also have the title of head tutor for this royal family. Everyday I have the opportunity to teach and train two little souls about the gospel, being kind, and developing a noble character. And in the meantime, they are helping mold and stretch me into a person of much deeper charity. Sometimes I get to be the head gardener. I even got to mow the lawn and smell fresh cut grass and watch the dark rain clouds float lazily in the sky while feeling my muscles work out. Perhaps one of my most loved titles is head bed tucker inner. For 2 hours I get to brush little white teeth, read and tell stories, listen to little voices asking for water, stuffed animals and special blankets. I get exercise as I put my 3 year old back in bed 30 times. And then I get to rock a little chubby baby and see her stop drinking her bottle and smile when I start to sing. Perspective changes everything.