Discouraged...

Some days it just seems that all my efforts are not acheiving much. I remind my kids every day to turn off the lights and every day after they leave for school every light is on downstairs - that is 8 lights that are burning sometimes 9 if they've gone into the storage room...Everyday they know the routine of getting ready for school but every morning it seems like I am asking them for the first time. I dread after school and dinner time because of the homework battle and coming up with ideas for supper that the kids will eat without complaining - I can only handle kraft dinner once in a while. I have FHE lessons about being kind to each other, serving each other, choose the right and don't fight and everyday I am breaking up mini wars. I beg my children to behave when we are out of the house or having company -but they really must not be able to hear me. I wash and fold and put away all their laundry and the very next day it is all strewn about on their bedroom floor.

Being a mom and a housewife is my job - it's what I do everyday, and everyday it seems that I am told that what I say or do does not matter - so I get discouraged and wonder why I am trying at all - why not let my home fall into ruins - it would be so much easier and I am going crazy trying to keep it all together - my children don't seem to care. To me this is the same as slaving away at a job and your boss continually destroying your work or simply ignoring all that you've and demanding more.

Anyways the ranting is not the purpose of this blog. I read the following years ago before I even thought about getting married and having children. It was really inspiring and uplifting then and once I let myself let go of the trumoil that I am feeling these past few days I know it will be uplifting and perspective changing....

YOU ARE DISCOURAGED

In the street of life, walking in the darkness of the shadow, hungry old Satan was out hunting with his dogs. The little imps of human weakness. A man came walking through life's street. Satan said to the little devil, with a bitter face, 'Go get him for me'

Quickly the imp crossed the street, silently and lightly hopped to the man's shoulder. Close in his ear he wispered, 'You are discouraged'

'No' said the man 'I am not discouraged'

'You are discouraged'

The man replied this time, 'I don't think I am'

Louder and more decidedly the little imp said again 'I tell you, you are discouraged'

The man dropped his head and replied 'Well I suppose I am'

The imp hopped back to Satan and said promptly 'I have got him, he is discouraged'

Another man passed. Again old Satan said 'Get him for me'

The proud little imp demon of discouragement repeated his tactics. The first time that he said 'You are discouraged' the man replied emphatically 'NO'

The Second time the man replied 'I tell you I am NOT discouraged'

The third time he said 'I am not discouraged - You lie'

The man walked down the street, his head up, going toward the light. The imp of discouragement returned to his master crestfallen. 'I couldn't get him. Three times I told him he was discouraged. The third time he called me a liar, and that discouraged me.'

You see I feel better already :)