Tired of it.

So, anyone else find themselves regularly saying, "I am tired of it!" about various and sundry things? Tired of the piles of dirty laundry on the bathroom floor, tired of the piles of clean clothes on the den couch, tired of the Goodwill pile that has been sitting in the foyer for at least 2 weeks, tired of the health hazard we call a van. It happened to me tonight. Actually I think it has been happening all day, I am just too slow to realize it. Today I took the Goodwill bag AND we cleaned up the van! But tonight I was washing up breakfast and lunch dishes before I could begin cooking dinner (this was not an isolated incident). Kind of like most mornings when I have to wash dinner dishes before I can cook breakfast. You might call this a discipline issue. That's another post. Well at this particular moment I was "tired of it". And then I had to ask myself, "How tired of something do you have to be before you make effectual change?" So I finished unloading and loading the dishwasher, put the salmon and broccoli in the oven...when I noticed the stove top. And at this time I was tired of it. And I really was tired of it. I cleaned it! I even moved the burner covers and wiped them down! So what brought this on. I think it was being sick this weekend. I was down and out with a stomach bug all weekend. Monday started rapidly with husband leaving town at 6am, texting the co-op director saying I wasn't sure my stomach was going to make it, making lunches, dropping the baby at the sitter at 8:30, co-op from 9-3:30 (which involves grading papers and teaching two classes), picking up the baby at 4, cooking dinner, soccer practice, flag football game, showers and bed. Then it was Tuesday. We did not leave the house and I did not get out of my pj's all day! Tues night, once the kids went to bed, I did my bible study rather than watching tv. Then I read from my current novel The Vinegar Boy--historical fiction about the crucifixion. I awoke Wednesday ready for the day. We did school, I showered (high five) without one interruption (double high five), fixed lunch, hit the bank, post office, grocery store, finished school and this bring us back to the dishes. (remember the hubs is out of town for the second week so this was all with 4 kids in tow). I say all that to say, I think I needed a recharge. I needed some down time, I needed two days of good personal bible study. God says we need a day of rest. Sunday I was sick. So, although I rested it was not really a renewal. Had I not been sick, I would have taught Sunday School to 1st and 2nd graders, prepared dinner for a new community group that we were hosting AT OUR HOUSE for 7 couples and 20 kids. (this would have been fun but not rest) I am learning slowly, that I need regular rest and restoration. This is not a deep discovery. It is basic truth from GENESIS. I mean, this was true for God and the first humans. We are no different. I am better equipped to face the day to day challenges that wear me down with rest, real rest, rest in His Word! And the challenges usually aren't challenging, they are monotonous, routine, constant...like sweeping the floor only for cheese its to be crunched on the floor two seconds later. Or mopping only to have who knows what spilled at the next meal. Its the little things that add up to the blow up. But hopefully, what I re-learned tonight, is that "tired of it" only really means "tired of it" when it leads to change. So, when the kids hit the hay tonight, it is just me and Hebrews! And thankfully, Hebrews is all about Jesus our High Priest and our Rest. Thank you Lord Jesus for being personal and drawing near and letting us get to the place of being worn because this is when we REMEMBER that we need you every minute of every day.