Victory in Jesus

I asked the seven year old to wash the breakfast dishes as I headed outside to finally plant the green beans and to take care of the chickens. We are currently transitioning new chicks to the flock, which takes extra time, and after a week of traveling I feel behind on just about everything....the garden, the house, the yard, the animals.

A half an hour later as I came back inside to the puddles on the floor and counters, along with dishes that were not thoroughly cleaned, it felt like a useless endeavor to try and pull the kids into the household chores. To add insult to injury, at the same moment a candle was knocked over spreading glass onto the living room floor while the dog trudged into the kitchen with muddy paws. 

The tension build up can often come bubbling out with angry words and raised voices at the culprits as everything falls apart yet again. But it hasn't fallen apart. Not yet. Not until I have yanked down the walls of my wonderful home by accusatory statements and angry body language. Not until everyone else is crying along with me. 

But I don't have to do that. I can take a deep breath and at least attempt to calmly explain to the seven year old that using the sprayer while "washing" dishes makes a big mess and isn't very helpful. I can attempt to calmly ask everyone to stay outside while I clean up the glass and muddy footprints. 

As I rewash the dishes I tell myself that this is not a waste of time and energy. These are teaching moments, not just for the kids but for me as well. I can fall into the self-pity and frustration, allowing my angry words to be "justified", but that's not true and I know it. 

This is what victory in Jesus looks like sometimes. The mess is still here, the emotions may still be raw, but I do not need to apologize to the kids for losing my temper. I do not have to ask the Lord to forgive me. And mess or no mess, my life is as good as ever.