When Worship is Hard

If you know me at all, you will know how shocking this statement is:

"I love my mornings." 

Really. Truly. It has taken about 1.5 years, but I have finally, most days, been in a good morning routine. Part of this time is spent with the Lord (and crazy amounts of coffee). I adore the early quiet hours of studying the Word, spending time in prayer, and journaling, before the littles in my house wake up.

It is then, that all is right with the world. It is then, that worship seems so easy. Quietness in my heart and house kind of worship. An "I give you my day," statement of worship.

And then the crazies that live in my house wake up. And I need to remember that my attitude in my heart and what I display to my children is also worship.

But that is when worship is the hardest. 

When I am in the shower and I hear Caleb say, "Mom, I just slipped in my room."
"What did you slip on?"
"The slippery stuff. Well, I just peed in my room and then fell."
"Mommy is in the shower. Get here in the bathroom. Sit down and have a time out." 

Only to find all the rolls of toliet paper.....unrolled.

This is when worship is hard. 

Or when a cup of yogurt is thrown across my dining room (ahem, freshly mopped floors.)

This is when worship is hard.

Or, when I have a baby who is constipated and has literally screamed for 24 hours. ( Do the math= no sleep for this mamma). And don't worry people, we use pear juice in this house, and we have poop!

When I am tired....this is when worship is hard.

Or when I put my three year old down for a nap, and hear crashing noises, only to find out, he has emptied his drawers, thrown his books, and moved his bed. GO. TO. SLEEP. For the love, go to sleep.

When nap time is cut....worship is hard.

Or when my house looks like a college guy's dorm room......

This is when it is hard to worship.

Or, when during a time out Caleb says, "I just went potty on the stairs because I was mad at you"

It's hard to worship.

Or when I feel like I haven't done anything significant today....

During the mundane trials of mommyhood, wifedom and home ownership, it is so good to reminded to take every thought and make it captive to Christ. If I am not glorifying God in my mind, I will not be glorifying Him in my actions.

These summer days are L O N G. And hard.

To all my mommy friends, may this be an encouragement to you, to start your day before your kids wake up. Don't wake up to your kids, wake up FOR your kids. It took me a while to get used to it and learn the difference, but I absolutely treasure my time in the morning with no kiddos.

The last two days at our house have been one for the books, but I know my attitude would be so much worse, had I not spent time with the Lord, giving Him my day, spending time in His word and being still.

So let's press on, shall we?