First Things First

It seems simple enough. You have to put on your socks before you put on your shoes (unless you're wearing flip-flops), you should put the toothpaste on the toothbrush before you brush your teeth. But, what do you do when the baby is starving, you've run out of counter space for dirty dishes, and the seven-year-old needs help with her math work? Well, I suppose you could move math to the kitchen, nurse the baby while standing and doing the dishes with one hand. But, it would be right at that moment that the toddler walks in with a bloody nose dripping everywhere. Things just aren't so cut and dry for a Mama with many little ones. The needs are constant, and often urgent.

It is in these moments that I will cry out to the Lord, "you told me that your yoke is easy and your burden is light, so what exactly is the burden that I am to bear right now?" With that, I can calmly set down the baby who has been fed enough to last another five minutes, clean up the toddler, and sit back down with my infant. As she nurses, the seven-year-old may sit near us and she and I can go over her math. The dishes have no soul, so they can wait. There's a good rule for you; if it doesn't have a soul, it can wait for those who do. Just because his burden is easy doesn't mean that we can relax, but we can rest in knowing that no matter how constant the needs are, He is by our side bearing them with us.