A Different Feeling

Some days are hard. Today was one of those. It wasn't a bad day. In fact, it was good until about 4:00 pm when I was trying to clean the fish tank (curse you Aunt K ;) for getting that algae filled poop swamp that I just cannot seem to clean without spilling water EVERYWHERE) . . . and both the girls woke up, R peed her pants (for the 3rd time today), K hurt herself and was poopy, and A just simply didn't feel good which meant whine whine whine . . . shall I go on???  I have 4 fingers that have deep splits in them which makes everything I do for the kids hurt, my hubby is sick, my house is dirty, my laundry is piled high, and my van looks like 10 diaper bags exploded inside of it.

Today I am feeling a little blobbish. Hmmmmm, I was doing so good at not feeling blobbish too! What to do? What to do?

For me. Today. The answer is . . . reflect.

This morning I read the following in the book of Mark in the New Testament:
Chapter 6, Verses 31-34

31And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a ^adesert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no ^bleisure so much as to eat.

 32And they departed into a ^adesert place by ship privately.

 33And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

 34And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with ^acompassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a ^bshepherd: and he began to ^cteach them many things.

Before these verses it explains that Jesus had just left his home city where he was saddened by their unwillingness to listen, to go and finally rest and eat something after working, teaching, blessing, healing, praying, and preaching days upon days without any break at all. 

Just as he was coming out of the ship, he saw the people who needed him and, as it says, he "was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd."

It hit me today that our children are like these lost sheep not having a shepherd. When they came through the vale at birth, they forgot what they knew in heaven. It is our job to be a sort of a shepherd for them so that they can find their Great Shepherd . . . the Savior. We can be like the Savior and though we are tired, overworked, hungry, and even discouraged . . . we can take compassion on our sweet children and teach them, love them, and help to bring them to the Savior. 

This gave me a different perspective on parenting that I had never discovered before. I am feeling a strange sort of gratitude today . . . pressure to be more willing to keep going . . . but also a great peace and power in knowing that I get to teach my children about the Savior.