If you ask any wife of a truck driver, what's the hardest part about it is, she will undoubtedly tell you it is always feeling like a single parent.This is made even harder when you have more than one like we do, I happen to have four. Out of the four only one is a girl, and for those mom's with boys you know why having dad around makes it easier dealing with them at times.
My bad day started at around one in the morning when my youngest (age 5) woke up with tummy troubles. I quickly ushered him to the bathroom, where he proceeded to take care of "business" (I'll save you the details). This was accompanied by a massive migraine on my part and a wave of nausea that was getting worse with my son's "business". So, needless to say, there was not much sleeping going on in the Perkins's house!
Seemed like only minutes before the alarm went off, and it was time to get up and get ready for church. The temptation to stay home was really strong, but I made a promise never to miss unless I was deathly ill, and lack of sleep did not constitute this. Not to mention, I have nine fourth graders who depend on me being there to teach Sunday school.
I quickly woke the kids up and told them to get ready, and when you are in a hurry, it seem like they intentionally mover slower! My daughter is the queen of making us wait, with endless battles of what she will wear, or won't wear. I have been know to throw her shoes in the car, load everyone in, and start the car to make her think we will leave without her!
To complicate matters even more, today happened to be a our church fish fry. Everyone in the church was required to bring a covered dish, including the crazy lady with four kids. The one who happens to always look angry and bedraggled upon walking in to church. So what did I bring you ask? Watermelon, yep it was the first thing I spotted in the store, prior to that I had no idea what I would bring.
We finally made it to church with not much time to spare, as I still had to prepare for my class that would be starting in short order. The kids all made it to their designated classes without much of a fuss, and Sunday school went on without a hitch.
After school we all walk upstairs to worship together and hear the message from the preacher. We had only made it through the second hymn of the morning when it happened... "Mommy I have to use the bathroom", my five year old said. He looked at me with that white as a ghost, hand over his mouth, universal sign, for " lady if you don't take me now we are going to have a serious problem!" I quickly grabbed him and rushed out of the church like I was caring a bomb, and no sooner walked out the door when he exploded. "Literally!"
During all of this I kept thinking about Phil 4:13 "I can do All things through Christ the Lord who gives me strength! Admittedly, it is a challenge to continuously think that when it seems like things are always going wrong, but I did it!
Now, I am on the kitchen committee and part of my duty is to make sure when we have events such as the fish fry, I am responsible for cleaning up. I was secretly thinking to myself "really? am I going to be able to handle this today?" The kids took off to play with their friends and for a minute I had some peace. I took the time to make a plate, and relax with all the wonderful food everyone brought. After good conversation and some hard work afterward, I really started to feel much better about my day.
I took the time to greet and conversate with friends, and all the troubles of my day just seemed to melt away. Perhaps God knew what I needed better than I did! Go Figure!! Ecclesiastes 4:4 tell us "Two are better than one..if one falls down his friend can help him up!
It is not always easy getting everyone dressed, ready, and out the door in time for church. But, I made a promise to God that I would raise up my children in the way of the Lord, and that is what I intend to do! Mothers, remember, on those days when you feel like you just can't go on another minute to stop and pray! Let the Holy Spirt fill you and remind you of what is important. Your worst day may just end up being a little better!
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