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Do Work

Today I’m sitting at the computer cleaning out some junk and non essentials on the interwebs and my daughter keeps asking

“What you doing mom?” Whacha duuuuuuune”

“Work” What are you duuuuuuune? It sure isn’t your math”

“Oh ya mom I did laundry”

“But what about what’s in front of you right now?”

“oh ya”

——-5 min later ——

Math cat (Peaches) is sitting in front of her math homework. Peaches wears many hats in this household including but not limited to reading cat, annoying cat, feed me, cat and and I just vomited all over the floor cat. Renzie starts Playing with Peaches tail instead of doing her work. Bet you can’t guess what happened! Peaches takes a swipe at her and scratches her cheek.

initially Renzie was shocked. angry sad hurt and a little offended. Mom is it bleeding?

No

Will you get me an ice pack?

Sure

When i get back she somehow had sleeping mask over her eyes

mom can I wear this today

no you wont be able to see to do your work

but it hurts

I know it wont hurt for long though ” do your work”

fidget fidget fidget

do your your work you your going to timeout

fidget fidget fidget

1

fidget

Do your work

Mom can we listen to some classical music it helps me relax to do math

Yes, in 5 min  I gotta do some work

She puts the ice pack back on her eye

David “Renzie you lost the game! Mom you too!  HA HA HA!!

Renzie says ha ha ha and  starts to just stare at her work but not doing anything.

2  “Renzie do your work!”

Whine.

Renzie go to your room.

Can I take my school work with me?

No you do not get the privilege to work while your in timeout.

Whine and walks off.

I’m putting classical music for her to listen to when she gets back.

Math cat comes back to settle on her papers again David come up to ask a question in a hushed respectful whisper then goes back to his business.

Renzie are you ready to do your work.

Yes mom I was just reading…   Will you put on some music?

Yes if your ready.

She sits down I turn on my phone to snap a pic.

What are you doing mom?

It is no business of yours what I am doing, you do your work and Ill do mine.

Are we going anywhere today?

Not if you don’t do your work.

ok.

Working, singing, laughing at her mistakes talking nonsense and still doing her work.

Is she still getting distracted? Yes

Will I keep reminding her? Yes

Does she need reprimanded from time to time? Yes.

Will I keep reminding her gently till her work is finish for the day?

Always

Did she hold the ice pack on her face again? Yes.

Did she ask me if her eye looked bad. Yes she did.

I told her. No it doesn’t look bad, you are beautiful.

You are dearly loved daughter now do your work.

——

She finished math, pulled the sleeping mask over her eyes for a min. Then got up to go read.

I’m checking her work she got a few wrong even left one blank. I’m sure she’ll do better tomorrow but she did her work.

She did and it was good.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on

A year in Review

Killing apathy

I always try to self evaluate every year and this year was no different. I evaluate my heart and find some goals not reached and my spiritual growth to have been slow. Its hard to admit, my life as thus far in my early 30s seems to have come in what seems just inches at a time, when I want so much more. I look back at the past 365 days and wonder what could have been if I had not wasted those precious minutes, but I look forward to the future for I know the end goal to be a life lived in honor to God.

A year vs five.. When I look back at the last year its easy for me to be self critical and say What have you really accomplished and did you honor God in the process? ‘You didn’t do nearly half of what you wanted to achieve in your work, your family, or your own spiritual growth’  I hear my own self doubt and I’m always reminded of a song by Larry Norman ‘Walking Backwards Down the Stairs’ I always felt so much in common with these lyrics. They aren’t culturally relevant, or inspiring in fact they are quite the opposite. I wish I could say anyone reading this has even heard the song, but I know thats far reaching! I always look back and feel like I have been spiritually stagnant, like I’m facing the right direction in this race (1) but either I’m moving the wrong direction or my pace is that of a scenic walk, instead of a focused intentional race to a finish line. Now lets be clear I’m no runner ‘Run for fun I ask? What kind of fun is that?’ running metaphors have little application to my life. I would rather paint you a picture than run a mile, but whatever analogy I use the point remains, I’m in this for the long ‘run’ and the deceitful lies I tell myself about not making progress are just that.

I have accomplished more this year than in the last 5 combined, in what seems all areas of my life my work, my children’s education, and my walk with God just to name a few! I don’t say that to brag but celebrate a life moving forward. The long game. Not a sprint, a marathon. An artists masterpiece can take years to complete It took Michelangelo 4 years to complete the Sistine Chapel something he would rather have not even started! Though ones pace is slow at times and we may not enjoy the work or circumstance we are in, the goal remains to finish. Though the temptation to give up is there we forge ahead. Not walking backwards like the song suggests but focused on the goal. There is no greater harm than time wasted so we press on. I look forward to the year to come and I pray that I desire more than I can accomplish.

 

(1) Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.