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Privilege

April 18, 2016 by Adrienne

Blaine left today for a weeklong trip for work.

Today I folded laundry. For hours. Something nearing 12 loads of laundry were already washed, dried, and waiting when my day began. I was only backed up on folding for a few days and that’s where I ended up. Throw in a few more loads that I did today and, well, today I folded laundry. Only two remain not put away. One more is still in the dryer.

This serving my family thing is hard. When I see the teaching of school, the laundry, and, well, more laundry in front of me, when my husband is off earning a living – because, well, the electricity usage from these loads, and darn it, the children want to eat as well… When there’s no end in sight for what needs to happen, it’s hard. Motherhood has taught me, like nothing else in life, about dying to oneself. Not that I’ve mastered, or even fully grasped, the concept, but I’m learning. Learning to sit and fold laundry. To rock a fussy baby, and fold more laundry. To give a spelling test and fold more laundry. To stop and switch loads, to explain long division five more times, to sort out clothes that this growing baby has outgrown, to read a toddler her favorite book yet again, to watch her repay the favor to her baby brother (and her own baby), and fold yet more.

image

It’s a privilege, an honor, to serve these children, to teach them about life, love, and Jesus.

And to fold the clothes for them for another day, another week, to recognize that someday, I won’t have teeny tiny socks to match. (Or to throw into a basket of singletons. Or to give up mismatch with similar items. It’s the cool thing these days, I tell them. We have a sock eating monster to feed, after all.)

Some days, when I can’t see past the piles of laundry, the muddy floor, and the tears over long division, I remind myself that this is an honor. A privilege. To him whom much is given, much is required. Soldier on.

← Perspective.
TOS Review: Apologia Educational Ministries →

Filed Under: News

About Adrienne

A homeschooling mother of ten, ages 19 and under, I chronicle life, laughs, struggles, and lessons learned as I raise a larger-than-most sized family and try to laugh about the craziness.

Comments

  1. Charlotte Moore says

    April 19, 2016 at 1:44 am

    Very well written Adrienne. You have such a gift of writing. What a precious picture of Miss Ellie, Stellan, and her baby doll.

  2. Cassandra Holdeman says

    April 19, 2016 at 10:30 am

    Thank you for the beautiful reminder that serving our families is an honor and a privilege.

  3. Kirsten says

    April 19, 2016 at 12:19 pm

    And this is why you must not stop writing! Your words are so true and encouraging and you are a wonderful example to those of us a few steps behind where you are. Yes, soldier on!

  4. Linda Wahl says

    April 20, 2016 at 7:49 am

    Absolutely beautiful! This is going to sound crazy, but I miss the days you just described so much! *tears* *sniff* 🙂 Pouring into our families is the best kind of work! You are a blessed mama, Adrienne!

  5. Erica says

    April 21, 2016 at 10:12 am

    I needed this today. It’s been a rough week and the house is a disaster.

  6. Erica says

    April 21, 2016 at 10:13 am

    I needed this today. It’s been a crazy week and dosnt look to be slowing down.

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