My husband and seventeen year old just got back from a ten day trip to Columbia. They went to serve a community there by running a VBS for the kids, a women’s night out, a men’s night out, and a weekend retreat for the youth. They were busy. During this same time, my fifteen, fourteen, twelve, and ten year old joined YWAM Knoxville for a six day outreach to some remote Appalachian communities where they ran a day camp for kids and had evening VBS in several locations. They were up early, went to bed late, and worked hard all day. I was really glad that all my family members were able to participate in these things.
In the meantime, I stayed home with my two little boys, and my oldest, and took care of the mundane things. Grocery shopping. Meals. Dishes. Feed the animals. We’ve had a flea problem with our pets so I spent several days working on de-fleaing my home. Church. Laundry. Pretty mundane stuff. We had some trips to Grandma’s house to break up the monotony which was nice, but even that we kept low-key.
I thought about writing a blog about the Power of the Mundane. How it’s an important job to have someone home tending the fires, keeping things running. How, without someone doing the mundane stuff, it wouldn’t be possible for other people to go do the adventurous and exciting stuff. How our role in the home is often unseen, but so very important. But, I didn’t write about that, because I wasn’t feeling it. I was feeling tired. Irritated. Wanting a break. And when my husband texted me on his last day in Columbia to say they were able to go to the beach, I was genuinely glad that he was getting to do something fun, but at the same time feeling hot and bothered that I had family members on the beach in Columbia, while my schedule for the day was to vacuum and sweep and mop my entire house.
Just being real here. 😏
But, I was able to get some perspective.
Someone asked me if I wished I could have gone with my husband. And I thought about it and the answer was genuinely, No. All of my family spent their entire time gone talking and interacting with new people. Making connections. Reaching out to others. As an introvert and someone who has been feeling emotionally depleted for a while now, spending a big chunk of time talking to other people does not sound good. I know that I don’t have that in me at the moment.
I think what has surprised me about this time has been the peace I have felt despite all the irritation. I know that God has good things for me too, that I don’t have to resign myself to just being a dishwasher and laundry folder for the rest of my life. There are adventures and excitement out there for me too. And they’ll come at the right time and be the right kind of adventure that suits me, my personality, and where I am at in life.
In the meantime, I will continue to do the tasks set in front of me. Be Master of the Mundane. Keep the household running, and really enjoy the fact that most of my family is home now.
Life With Esther 